Abner is a Hebrew name meaning "my father is a light" or "father of light", borne in the Bible by the commander of King Saul's army. It was a favorite of the Puritans and of 19th-century America, and the comic strip Li'l Abner kept it in the public eye for decades. After a long absence Abner returned to the US top 1000 in 2023, reached number 838 in 2024 and ranks number 874 among boys in 2025.