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Abbie

Girl name · 4,307 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Abbie: 4,307 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 306 births in 2004.

The name Abbie began as a charming Scottish and English diminutive of Abigail, which itself comes from the Hebrew Avigayil, meaning "my father is joy" or "father's joy." Though it started as a nickname, Abbie has long been used as an independent given name in its own right. One of the most famous bearers is Abbie Hoffman, the American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party (the "Yippies") in the 1960s. In Scotland, the name feels both modern and traditional, popular since the 1970s. A connection to place lies in the biblical Abigail, who was the wife of King David, but there is no Scottish town directly linked to the name. Of note, the spelling "Abby" is also popular, but "Abbie" remains the most common variant in Scotland, perhaps influenced by the affectionate Scottish term "abbie" for a small, cheerful person.