Names That Mean Mother or Father

Abital is popular for boys as well as girls in Israel, but we rarely hear it here. In the Old Testament, Abital was one of King David's wives and the mother of his fifth son.

Abijah, which you might think of as Abigail with rhythm, is the name of both female and male personages in the Bible. A biblical Queen Abijah was the daughter, wife, and mother of kings. The name is pronounced with a long i, to rhyme with Elijah.

The Biblical Abijah might be temporarily lost to time, but this antiquated short form could move with it into the modern era.

West African name best known as that of Yetunde Price, half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams who was tragically murdered in 2003.

Delicate and lacy, with less emphasis on the jar syllable.

Whether you're looking for an unexpected nickname for the imposing Abraham or a fresh spin on the Biblical classic, this highly unusual variation might appeal to namers with a sense of adventure.

Mitrofan comes from the obscure Greek name Metrophanes. It is primarily used as a first name but is also seen as a surname in countries such as Romania.

The name of one of King David's heroes in the Old Testament. A variant form is Avishai.

There are two Abihails in the Old Testament, but her similarity to Abigail is probably responsible for its being so little known or used.