Abel is a biblical forename which may derive from the Hebrew Hebel, itself derived from hevel (breath or vapour), or from the Assyrian for son. In reference to the biblical story, Abel is usually linked with his brother, as Cain and Abel.
Based on its occurrence in the Bible the name Abel has been used in many European languages; in English it was mostly used by the Puritans in the 17th Century.
ON THIS DAY
1954 | A formal peace took hold in Indochina, ending more than seven years of fighting between the French and the Communist Vietminh. |
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1965 | Deadly rioting and looting broke out in the predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles. |
1992 | The Mall of America, the biggest shopping mall in the country, opened in Bloomington, Minn. |
1998 | British Petroleum purchased Amoco for $49 billion. |
2000 | Pat Buchanan won the Reform Party presidential nomination. |
2002 | US Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. |
2003 | NATO took command of the 5,000-strong peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. |
2003 | Charles Taylor resigned as Liberia's president and went into exile in Nigeria. |
2006 | The Transportation Security Administration banned all liquids, gels and aerosols from passenger cabins on airliners one day after a thwarted terrorist attack. |
2009 | Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, died at age 88. |
BIRTHDAYS
949 | Eric Carmen, Singer, turns 65 |
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1953 | Hulk Hogan, Wrestler, actor, turns 61 |
1954 | Joe Jackson, Rock singer, turns 60 |
1967 | Joe Rogan, Actor, host ("Fear Factor"), turns 47 |
1968 | Charlie Sexton, Rock musician, turns 46 |
1986 | Pablo Sandoval, Baseball player, turns 28 |
1993 | Alyson Stoner, Actress, turns 21 |