Contracted from 'Abiyram; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham -- Abram.
see HEBREW 'Abiyram
H87. Abram
אַבְרָם proper name, masculine (id., Thes and others exalted father) Abram Genesis 11:26-27, 57t. Genesis (to 17:5) + 1 Chronicles 1:27; Nehemiah 9:7; = אַבְרָהָם Abraham Genesis 17:5, 9, 15 172t. OT. (אברהם connected 17:5 by word-play with הם of המון; really = אברם ֯ רום = רהם which however is not found in Hebrew — compare Di > HalRÉJ 1887, 177 f who proposes גּוֺיִם הַם אֲבִר compare 49:21 with Isaiah 41:21; so that הָם אֲבִר chief of multitude is the new name of Genesis 17:5 (הָם) √ המה). SpiegelbRandglossen 14 compare Palestinian proper name geography µ‡r° °brru = אברם חקל (compage Egyptian article masculine), in Sheshonk list. As regards etymology, Nöl.c. and others explained as 'the father [a divine title] is exalted' (compare חִירָם מַלְכִּירָם, יְהוֺרָם,[אֲ]).