Abby

Abby is an English given name that originated as a short form of Abigail, which derives from the Hebrew name Avigayil, composed of the elements av, meaning father, and gil, meaning rejoicing, often interpreted together as my father is joy or father rejoices. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as the wife of King David, a woman praised for her wisdom and good judgment, which helped establish Abigail as a popular name across the English-speaking world. Abby has long been used independently as a given name in its own right, not merely as a nickname. Related forms include Abigail, Abbie, and Abi.