Abimelech
Abimelech Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Meaning of Abimelech: Abimelech is a Hebrew biblical name composed of avi (אבי, my father) and melech (מלך, king), meaning “my father is king” or “the king is my father.”.
In ancient Semitic naming, “father” could refer to God, a divine ancestor, or a royal ancestor, giving the name both a theological and a political dimension that made it appropriate for royal figures and their descendants.
In the Old Testament, Abimelech is the name of at least three distinct figures. The most prominent are the kings of Gerar—a Philistine ruler who appears in Genesis 20 (in relation to Abraham) and Genesis 26 (in relation to Isaac).
What Does Abimelech Mean? Origin & Etymology
A third Abimelech is the son of the judge Gideon, who killed 70 of his brothers to seize power and ruled as a self-proclaimed king in Judges 9—one of the darkest political narratives in the Hebrew Bible.
The repetition of the name across multiple generations and narratives suggests that Abimelech may have functioned as a royal title or dynastic name among Philistine rulers, similar to Pharaoh in Egypt.
Biblical scholars note the same pattern in Psalm 34’s heading, which refers to an Abimelech in a context matching the 1 Samuel story of Achish, king of Gath.
Abimelech is rare as a modern given name. It appears in Puritan New England baptism records from the 17th and 18th centuries, where the full range of Old Testament names—including those of morally ambiguous figures—were in active use.
The name occasionally appears in West African and Caribbean Christian communities with deep Old Testament naming traditions.
According to SSA records, Abimelech does not rank in the US top 1000. The name is primarily of scholarly interest in biblical onomastics and ancient Semitic naming history.
Numerology & Symbolism of Abimelech
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Abimelech – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Abimelech
What does Abimelech mean?
Abimelech is Hebrew 'my father is king' meaning father; This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament including a king of Gerar who takes A....
How popular is Abimelech?
Abimelech is rarely used in the United States but maintains its standing in Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek. SSA records show no significant US ranking for this name.
Is Abimelech a boy or girl name?
Abimelech is used as both a masculine and feminine given name in its home tradition. The name is most common in Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek communities.
What are variants of Abimelech?
Abimelech has related forms in other languages: 'Avimelekh (Biblical Hebrew). These variants all share the same root and meaning.