Abiah

Abiah is a given name of Hebrew origin. It is generally understood as a theophoric form, combining elements that mean “my father” and the divine name Yahweh, yielding a sense such as “Yahweh is my father” or “my father is Yahweh.” The name is related to other Hebrew forms such as Abijah (Abijahu) and shares the same theophoric element honoring Yahweh.

In biblical usage, Abiah appears in Hebrew Bible-derived traditions and English translations as part of the broader family of names closely related to Abijah. The exact spelling and popularity of the form have varied across manuscripts and translations, with Abijah being the more common form in many English Bibles. Over time, Abiah has persisted as a historical or variant form in some communities.

Usage and notable bearers have varied by era and region. In English-speaking contexts, Abiah has been used sporadically, most prominently in early modern and colonial periods. A well-known bearer is Abiah Folger Franklin (1667–1752), the mother of American polymath Benjamin Franklin, whose prominence in biographies has kept the name in historical records. Today, Abiah remains a relatively uncommon given name, sometimes chosen by families with biblical or classical naming traditions and used for both genders in certain communities.

See also: Abijah, Abi, Abiya.