Abraham

The story

1. Biblical Hebrewאַבְרָהָם (ʔaḇrɔhɔm)
2. Ancient GreekἈβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m)
3. LatinĀbrahām
4. Old EnglishAbraham
5. Middle EnglishAbraham
6. English todayAbraham

From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם ('aḇrāhām, “Abraham”). Thomas L. Thompson suggests that the meaning of the name in Genesis was forgotten due to its age and that its original meaning was "Father is exalted." Glossed as אַב (aḇ, “father of”) + הֲמוֹן (hăˈmōn, “multitude of”) in Genesis 17:4–5; or from Hebrew אַבְרָם ('aḇrām, “Abram”). Doublet of Ibrahim, Avraham, Abramo, and Abrahan.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• first attested prior to 1150 A prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.
• first attested prior to 1150 A male given name from Hebrew.
• first attested prior to 1150 A surname originating as a patronymic.