Abby

Abby is a diminutive of Abigail, from Hebrew Avigayil meaning "my father is joyful" or "cause of joy." In the Hebrew scriptures, Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman who intervened to prevent violence and later became one of King David's wives. As a nickname, Abby carries all that biblical warmth in a lighter, more casual form — approachable, genuinely joyful, impossible not to like.

Abby holds the #109 spot among US pet names, with nearly 950 companions sharing it. The name has a particular friendliness — it sounds like someone you are already friends with, which is perhaps why it suits companion animals so naturally. Abby tends to appeal for sociable, open-hearted companions, those who make their affection freely available to anyone who needs it and seem to understand instinctively what the people around them are feeling. It is a name with deep warmth and complete reliability.