Abijah
Abijah Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ə.ˈbaɪ.d͡ʒə/
Meaning of Abijah: Abijah is the Hebrew biblical name Aviyah (אביה), composed of avi (אבי, my father) and Yah (יה, a shortened form of YHWH), meaning “my father is Yahweh.”.
The name belongs to the ancient Israelite ʿavi-theophoric tradition, which declared the divine as a father figure and expressed the covenant relationship between God and His people.
In the Old Testament, Abijah is the name of multiple figures. The most prominent is Abijah son of Rehoboam, who became king of Judah and defeated the northern kingdom of Israel in battle (2 Chronicles 13).
What Does Abijah Mean? Origin & Etymology
Abijah is also the name of the priestly division mentioned in 1 Chronicles 24:10, from which Zechariah—the father of John the Baptist—descended (Luke 1:5). The Greek Septuagint renders this name as Abia.
The name’s dual presence in both the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament gives it a place across Jewish and Christian naming traditions. It appears in genealogical lists in Matthew 1 and Luke 3, connecting it to the messianic lineage.
This New Testament presence has made Abijah familiar in both evangelical and mainline Protestant naming contexts.
Abijah is used for both male and female characters in the Hebrew Bible—a notable feature among the avi- compound names. 1 Samuel 8:2 names one of Samuel’s sons Abijah, while 1 Kings 14:1 names a son of Jeroboam.
The name thus appears across the full chronological span of the monarchic period in Israelite history.
According to SSA records, Abijah does not rank in the US top 1000. The name is used by families in evangelical Christian communities who favor original Hebrew Old Testament forms over their Greek Septuagint equivalents (Abia).
Numerology & Symbolism of Abijah
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Abijah – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Abijah
What does Abijah mean?
Abijah is Hebrew 'my father is Yahweh ' meaning father; In the Old Testament this is the name of several characters, both male and female, including the ....
How popular is Abijah?
Abijah is rarely used in the United States but maintains its standing in Biblical. SSA records show no significant US ranking for this name.
How do you pronounce Abijah?
Abijah is pronounced /ə.ˈbaɪ.d͡ʒə/. The name originates in Biblical tradition.
What are variants of Abijah?
Abijah has related forms in other languages: Abia (Biblical Greek), 'Aviya (Biblical Hebrew), Abia (Biblical Latin). These variants all share the same root and meaning.