Fun Facts About the Name Deborah
- An established favorite: Deborah held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 30 consecutive years, from 1947 through 1976.
- More than 744 thousand babies named Deborah: U.S. records list 744,475 babies given the name Deborah from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,658 boys received the name Deborah - about 1 boy for every 448 girls.
What Does the Name Deborah Mean?
Deborah is a feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee." It comes from the Hebrew noun דְּבוֹרָה (devorah), the ordinary word for a bee. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible in this form: Deborah the prophetess and judge in the Book of Judges, and Deborah the nurse of Rebecca in Genesis. English Deborah is a later form of this Hebrew name, transmitted through Greek Δεββώρα (Debbōra) and Latin Debbora.
The literal meaning is "bee." Later symbolic readings sometimes treat the bee as an emblem of diligence, community, or inspired speech, but those are interpretive associations rather than the name's linguistic sense. The common English short forms Deb and Debbie come from Deborah; Devorah is a Hebrew form, and Debra is an English variant.
Deborah Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah) appears in biblical texts. Its best-known bearer is the prophetess and judge Deborah in the Book of Judges, who is described as leading Israel and delivering a victory song. Another Deborah, the nurse of Rebecca, is mentioned in Genesis. These biblical uses are the earliest known contexts for the name.
Through the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, the name passed into Christian Europe as Debbōra and Debbora. In English, it became Deborah. It was among the Old Testament names that English Puritans and other Protestant families gave their children, and it was carried to colonial America. Other language forms include Spanish and Portuguese Débora, Italian Debora, and French Débora.
How Popular is the Name Deborah?
Deborah remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1947 to 1976. Its highest annual birth count was in 1954, and people born that year turn 72 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #864 | 313 | 0.0195% |
| 2024 | #852 | 316 | 0.0196% |
| 2023 | #968 | 267 | 0.0167% |
| 2022 | #910 | 301 | 0.0184% |
| 2021 | #910 | 295 | 0.0180% |
| 2020 | #905 | 290 | 0.0180% |
| 2019 | #900 | 296 | 0.0176% |
| 2018 | #781 | 349 | 0.0205% |
| 2017 | #772 | 357 | 0.0207% |
| 2016 | #821 | 349 | 0.0197% |
| 2015 | #804 | 350 | 0.0196% |
| 2014 | #752 | 373 | 0.0209% |
| 2013 | #815 | 330 | 0.0188% |
| 2012 | #793 | 337 | 0.0191% |
| 2011 | #811 | 332 | 0.0189% |
| 2010 | #774 | 355 | 0.0200% |
| 2009 | #817 | 346 | 0.0188% |
| 2008 | #808 | 356 | 0.0188% |
| 2007 | #777 | 372 | 0.0194% |
| 2006 | #672 | 425 | 0.0224% |
| 2005 | #653 | 425 | 0.0230% |
| 2004 | #640 | 427 | 0.0233% |
| 2003 | #632 | 423 | 0.0232% |
| 2002 | #559 | 474 | 0.0264% |
| 2001 | #543 | 490 | 0.0272% |
| 2000 | #494 | 546 | 0.0301% |
| 1999 | #496 | 524 | 0.0295% |
| 1998 | #465 | 554 | 0.0314% |
| 1997 | #411 | 638 | 0.0367% |
| 1996 | #410 | 635 | 0.0362% |
| 1995 | #398 | 659 | 0.0375% |
| 1994 | #355 | 739 | 0.0414% |
| 1993 | #328 | 797 | 0.0441% |
| 1992 | #303 | 919 | 0.0498% |
| 1991 | #271 | 1,015 | 0.0541% |
| 1990 | #262 | 1,095 | 0.0577% |
| 1989 | #251 | 1,076 | 0.0584% |
| 1988 | #250 | 1,056 | 0.0593% |
| 1987 | #222 | 1,203 | 0.0692% |
| 1986 | #202 | 1,287 | 0.0750% |
| 1985 | #192 | 1,400 | 0.0814% |
| 1984 | #187 | 1,468 | 0.0872% |
| 1983 | #171 | 1,608 | 0.0962% |
| 1982 | #160 | 1,841 | 0.1087% |
| 1981 | #148 | 1,906 | 0.1143% |
| 1980 | #146 | 1,938 | 0.1167% |
| 1979 | #132 | 2,180 | 0.1358% |
| 1978 | #118 | 2,479 | 0.1618% |
| 1977 | #109 | 2,676 | 0.1745% |
| 1976 | #96 | 2,992 | 0.2042% |
| 1975 | #86 | 3,414 | 0.2342% |
| 1974 | #68 | 4,343 | 0.2959% |
| 1973 | #56 | 4,979 | 0.3414% |
| 1972 | #43 | 6,273 | 0.4124% |
| 1971 | #33 | 8,674 | 0.5213% |
| 1970 | #33 | 9,846 | 0.5632% |
| 1969 | #27 | 11,186 | 0.6631% |
| 1968 | #27 | 12,288 | 0.7491% |
| 1967 | #22 | 14,012 | 0.8487% |
| 1966 | #15 | 16,248 | 0.9602% |
| 1965 | #13 | 17,084 | 0.9679% |
| 1964 | #12 | 19,305 | 1.0188% |
| 1963 | #13 | 21,049 | 1.0921% |
| 1962 | #9 | 22,894 | 1.1641% |
| 1961 | #10 | 24,105 | 1.1943% |
| 1960 | #10 | 25,261 | 1.2494% |
| 1959 | #9 | 29,549 | 1.4603% |
| 1958 | #7 | 32,942 | 1.6376% |
| 1957 | #6 | 40,095 | 1.9608% |
| 1956 | #4 | 47,837 | 2.3827% |
| 1955 | #2 | 52,317 | 2.6757% |
| 1954 | #3 | 54,675 | 2.8155% |
| 1953 | #3 | 52,199 | 2.7746% |
| 1952 | #4 | 49,812 | 2.6862% |
| 1951 | #4 | 42,053 | 2.3351% |
| 1950 | #7 | 29,062 | 1.6965% |
| 1949 | #15 | 19,210 | 1.1228% |
| 1948 | #30 | 11,244 | 0.6622% |
| 1947 | #62 | 5,837 | 0.3293% |
| 1946 | #119 | 2,471 | 0.1573% |
| 1945 | #161 | 1,462 | 0.1119% |
| 1944 | #168 | 1,293 | 0.0974% |
| 1943 | #242 | 785 | 0.0563% |
| 1942 | #265 | 676 | 0.0500% |
| 1941 | #259 | 607 | 0.0502% |
| 1940 | #291 | 470 | 0.0411% |
| 1939 | #293 | 443 | 0.0404% |
| 1938 | #308 | 410 | 0.0372% |
| 1937 | #358 | 322 | 0.0303% |
| 1936 | #366 | 300 | 0.0288% |
| 1935 | #378 | 281 | 0.0268% |
| 1934 | #383 | 280 | 0.0268% |
| 1933 | #410 | 242 | 0.0240% |
| 1932 | #455 | 207 | 0.0194% |
| 1931 | #524 | 158 | 0.0148% |
| 1930 | #529 | 165 | 0.0147% |
| 1929 | #534 | 161 | 0.0144% |
| 1928 | #618 | 130 | 0.0113% |
| 1927 | #759 | 91 | 0.0076% |
| 1926 | #674 | 116 | 0.0098% |
| 1925 | #821 | 82 | 0.0067% |
| 1924 | #664 | 125 | 0.0100% |
| 1923 | #684 | 118 | 0.0098% |
| 1922 | #868 | 71 | 0.0059% |
| 1921 | #754 | 94 | 0.0076% |
| 1920 | #799 | 82 | 0.0068% |
| 1919 | #834 | 70 | 0.0062% |
| 1918 | #744 | 92 | 0.0079% |
| 1917 | #747 | 89 | 0.0082% |
| 1916 | #718 | 90 | 0.0086% |
| 1915 | #644 | 105 | 0.0107% |
| 1914 | #727 | 62 | 0.0081% |
| 1913 | #811 | 42 | 0.0067% |
| 1912 | #892 | 32 | 0.0057% |
| 1911 | #723 | 36 | 0.0086% |
| 1910 | #740 | 33 | 0.0083% |
| 1909 | #798 | 26 | 0.0075% |
| 1908 | #775 | 25 | 0.0075% |
| 1907 | #823 | 21 | 0.0066% |
| 1906 | #744 | 24 | 0.0081% |
| 1905 | #879 | 18 | 0.0062% |
| 1904 | #728 | 23 | 0.0084% |
| 1903 | #740 | 21 | 0.0080% |
| 1902 | #760 | 21 | 0.0080% |
| 1901 | #703 | 21 | 0.0088% |
| 1900 | #707 | 26 | 0.0087% |
| 1899 | #995 | 11 | 0.0047% |
| 1898 | #724 | 21 | 0.0081% |
| 1897 | #647 | 23 | 0.0098% |
| 1896 | #763 | 18 | 0.0076% |
| 1895 | #900 | 13 | 0.0056% |
| 1894 | #700 | 18 | 0.0081% |
| 1893 | #577 | 24 | 0.0113% |
| 1892 | #734 | 16 | 0.0075% |
| 1891 | #699 | 15 | 0.0081% |
| 1890 | #540 | 24 | 0.0126% |
| 1889 | #763 | 12 | 0.0067% |
| 1888 | #489 | 26 | 0.0146% |
| 1887 | #591 | 15 | 0.0103% |
| 1886 | #740 | 10 | 0.0069% |
| 1885 | #701 | 10 | 0.0075% |
| 1884 | #591 | 13 | 0.0101% |
| 1883 | #484 | 16 | 0.0142% |
| 1882 | #476 | 15 | 0.0139% |
| 1881 | #452 | 14 | 0.0152% |
| 1880 | #499 | 12 | 0.0132% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #8,411 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #4,901 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #5,632 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #5,471 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #5,276 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,742 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #5,653 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #4,310 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #5,055 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #5,056 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #3,212 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #3,252 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #2,222 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #2,531 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #2,665 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #2,145 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #1,592 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 1972 | #1,880 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #1,421 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1970 | #1,629 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,419 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #1,321 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1967 | #1,035 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 1966 | #1,092 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1965 | #1,131 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1964 | #970 | 62 | 0.0031% |
| 1963 | #1,041 | 53 | 0.0026% |
| 1962 | #1,075 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 1961 | #1,044 | 56 | 0.0026% |
| 1960 | #947 | 64 | 0.0030% |
| 1959 | #921 | 69 | 0.0032% |
| 1958 | #863 | 77 | 0.0036% |
| 1957 | #825 | 84 | 0.0039% |
| 1956 | #763 | 93 | 0.0044% |
| 1955 | #729 | 100 | 0.0049% |
| 1954 | #809 | 80 | 0.0039% |
| 1953 | #790 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 1952 | #726 | 94 | 0.0048% |
| 1951 | #893 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 1950 | #1,025 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1949 | #1,389 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #1,435 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1947 | #2,401 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,436 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #3,539 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #3,300 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,191 | 6 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Deborah
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Deborah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Deborah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Deborah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.