Ab

Hebrew

"father of light."

By Nameberry

Updated Thu Apr 24 2025

Ab Origin and Meaning

The name Ab is a boy's name of Israeli origin.

Ab is a short masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from 'אָב' (av) meaning 'father,' reflecting paternal significance in ancient societies. It appears in the Bible as a component of compound names and as the name of the fifth month in the Jewish calendar. In Arabic contexts, Ab can be a variant of Abd, meaning 'servant of.' The name also exists as a diminutive form of Albert or Abraham in some Western traditions. While historically present across several cultures, Ab remains quite rare as a standalone given name in modern usage, offering a distinctively brief, masculine sound with deep historical roots.

# 921 in the US

Ab Rank in US Top 1000

Famous People Named Ab

Ab Baars (born 1955)
Dutch jazz saxophonist and clarinetist
Ab van Bemmel (1912–1986)
Dutch boxer
Ab Box (1909–2000)
Canadian football player
Ab Campbell (1910–1973)
Canadian (Toronto) politician
Ab DeMarco (1916–1989)
Canadian ice hockey player
Ab DeMarco
Jr. (born 1949), Canadian ice hockey player
Ab Douglas (born 1950)
Dutch sports sailor
Ab van Egmond (born 1938)
Dutch road cyclist
Ab Fafié (1941–2012)
Dutch footballer
Ab Geldermans (born 1935)
Dutch road cyclist
Ab Gritter (de; fr; it; nl) (1949–2008)
Dutch footballer
Ab Hardy (1910–?)
Canadian speed skater
Ab Harrewijn (1954–2002)
Dutch GreenLeft politician
Ab Heijn (1927–2011)
Dutch entrepreneur, chairman of Ahold
Abbott "Ab" Jenkins (1883–1946)
American race car driver
Abraham "Ab" Klink (born 1958)
Dutch CDA politician
Ab McDonald (born 1936)
Canadian ice hockey player (Alvin Brian)
Ab Newsome (1920–1979)
Canadian ice hockey player
Ab Nicholas (1931–2016)
American chief executive
Ab Osterhaus (born 1948)
Dutch virologist
Ab Renaud (1920–2012)
Canadian ice hockey player
Ab Rogers (1909–?)
Canadian ice hockey player
Ab Salm (1801–1876)
Dutch painter
Ab Saunders (1851–1883)
American cowboy and gunman
Ab Sluis (born 1937)
Dutch cyclist
Ab Tamboer (1950–2016)
Dutch drummer
Ab Tresling (1909–1980)
Dutch field hockey player
Ab Walker (1910–2001)
Canadian (Ontario) politician
Ab Welsh (1913–1971)
Canadian ice hockey player
Ab Wolders (born 1951)
Dutch strongman and powerlifter
Ab Wright (1905–1995)
American baseball and football player

The name Ab in Pop Culture

Ab
short for "abdominal"