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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Abel m. Traditionally derived from Hebrew הֶבֶל 'breath, vapor; vanity'.

The name of an early Syrian saint, an early Coptic saint, an 8th C French saint, and a 13th C king of Denmark. Geneva Bible (1560): Abél, Habél.

The name was moderately common in England in the 13th C, but then fell out of use until being revived in the late 16th C.

England
Latin
1189 Abel (nom) GASurv p. 101
Early Modern English
1598 Abell BEmar-vol2 p. 31
France
Latin
1179 Abel (abl) clairvaux-12thc 177
Middle French
1588 Abel raymond1588 p. 564
Cite as: G. Grim, R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Abel". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2015/3/name/Abel.