Abner

Revision History

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10/6/2024, 9:08 PM Mike C update #116
12/7/2022, 9:35 PM Mike C update #113
11/16/2019, 11:04 AM Mike C update #105
5/31/2018, 2:36 PM Mike C update #99
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
10/20/2016, 1:17 AM Mike C update #93
10/10/2012, 5:50 PM Mike C update #84
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Masculine
Usage English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Scripts אַבְנֵר(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced Pron. /ˈæb.nəɹ/(English)

Meaning & History

From the Hebrew name אַבְנֵר (ʾAvner) meaning "my father is a light", derived from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light". In the Old Testament, Abner was a cousin of Saul and the commander of his army. After he killed Asahel he was himself slain by Asahel's brother Joab.

A famous bearer was the 14th-century Jewish philosopher Abner of Burgos, called Alfonso of Valladolid after he converted to Christianity. It has been used as an English Christian given name since the Protestant Reformation. It was popular with the Puritans, who brought it to America in the 17th century.