girl's name
Gabby
GAB-ee (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 1,387
Gabby is a girl's name meaning "God is my strength." It began as a short form of Gabrielle and Gabriella, the feminine versions of Gabriel, from the Hebrew Gavri'el, and it's now sometimes given as a full name. It's also used as a nickname for boys named Gabriel.
- Gabby is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2022, when 67 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 67,664 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1961.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Gabby Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1960s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 16 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 16 |
| 1990s | 116 |
| 2000s | 283 |
| 2010s | 486 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 345 |
What Gabby Means
Gabby carries the meaning of Gabriel, God is my strength. Its lively sound brings a second, unrelated association, since the English adjective gabby means talkative.
Where Gabby Comes From
Gavri'el, the Hebrew source, joins gever, a strong man, with el, God. The angel Gabriel made the name famous in both the Hebrew Bible and the Gospels, and Latin and French passed it through Christian Europe. French formed the feminine Gabrielle, which Italian mirrors in Gabriella. Gabby and Gabi developed in English and Spanish as everyday pet forms. The adjective gabby comes from the verb gab, to chat, and has no connection to the name, though the overlap has given it a friendly reputation.
Gabby in Use
Well-known bearers include gymnast Gabby Douglas and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, both of them Gabrielles. Older American audiences remember George "Gabby" Hayes, the western sidekick.
How Popular Is Gabby?
In 2025, Gabby was given to 49 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Gabby Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Gabby
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Gabby Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Gabby over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Gabby
- English GAB-ee /ˈɡæbi/
Gabby in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Gabby
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Gabby — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Gabby
What does the name Gabby mean?
God is my strength, through Gabrielle and Gabriel.
What is Gabby short for?
Gabrielle or Gabriella for girls, and sometimes Gabriel for boys.
Is Gabby a real name?
Yes. It's mostly a nickname, but it's also given as a full name.
How popular is the name Gabby?
In 2025, Gabby was given to 49 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Gabby a girl's or a boy's name?
Gabby is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Gabby?
Gabby has 2 syllables.
When was Gabby most popular?
Gabby peaked in 2022, when 67 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Gabby a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Gabby currently ranks #2,154 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.