אַבְנֵר

Avner

boyHebrewJewish

Avner is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “My father is light”.

MeaningMy father is light
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Written asאַבְנֵר
Pronunciationav-NAIR
TraditionJewish
Used inIsrael, United States

Meaning and origin of Avner

Avner, known in English Bibles as Abner, joins av, 'father', and ner, 'lamp' or 'light', and is usually explained as 'my father is light'. Abner was the cousin of King Saul and commander of his army; the books of Samuel describe his conflict with David's general Joab, who killed him (2 Samuel 3). Avner is a popular name in modern Israel.

Is Avner a Jewish name?

Avner is a biblical name from the books of Samuel, used chiefly by Jewish families.

How popular is Avner?

Common in Israel; Abner is the usual English form.

Gifts with the name Avner

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Spellings and variants of Avner

Names similar to Avner

More Jewish boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Avner mean?

Avner means 'My father is light'. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Avner a Jewish name?

Avner is a biblical name from the books of Samuel, used chiefly by Jewish families.

How do you pronounce Avner?

Avner is pronounced av-NAIR.

Is Avner a boy or girl name?

Avner is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.