Abner
/ˈæb.nəɹ/
Abner is a Hebrew name derived from Avner (אַבְנֵר), combining av (father) and ner (lamp, light): "my father is a light." In the Hebrew Bible, Abner son of Ner was the commander of King Saul's army - a politically significant figure who later supported Saul's son Ish-bosheth before being assassinated by Joab, David's general (2 Samuel 3).
English Puritans brought Abner into mainstream use in the 17th century, part of the broader Old Testament naming fashion that characterized Puritan communities on both sides of the Atlantic. It was common in New England from the 1650s onward and remained a reasonably standard American name through the 19th century.
Li'l Abner, Al Capp's long-running comic strip (1934-1977) featuring a naive but good-hearted hillbilly from Dogpatch, Kentucky, made Abner a household name in mid-20th-century America - though the character's rustic associations complicated the name's image for several decades afterward.
What the name Abner means
Abner has two syllables: AB-ner. It has the solid, grounded quality of a name that has been in continuous use for centuries without ever becoming fashionable in the modern sense - which is increasingly its appeal. Parents seeking a genuinely old, genuinely rare Old Testament name find Abner has excellent credentials.
Abner ranked No. 837 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 363 births. It is experiencing a modest revival as part of the broader return to Biblical and pioneer-era names.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Abner
Abner - similar names
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