Fun Facts About the Name Rebecca
- A favorite of earlier generations: Rebecca appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 72 years. Its last run lasted 67 consecutive years, from 1940 through 2006.
- More than 758 thousand babies named Rebecca: U.S. records list 758,070 babies given the name Rebecca from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,115 boys received the name Rebecca - about 1 boy for every 357 girls.
What Does the Name Rebecca Mean?
Rebecca comes from the Hebrew name Rivqah (רִבְקָה), borne in the Book of Genesis by the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. The meaning is not fully settled. The name is usually connected with a Semitic root seen in Arabic rabaqa, "to tie, knot, or snare," which gives a literal sense such as "to bind" or "a snare." Because that root does not otherwise appear in Hebrew, this is a reasonable proposal rather than a certainty.
English usage often glosses the name simply as "to bind," and devotional and rabbinic readings have added their own interpretations based on the Genesis story. Those are later layers of meaning, not additional literal senses of the Hebrew word.
Rebecca Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as Rivqah, the woman chosen as a wife for Isaac in Genesis 24. Greek-speaking Jews rendered it Rhebekka (Ῥεβέκκα) in the Septuagint, and the Latin Vulgate used Rebecca, the form that passed into most western European languages. The King James Bible of 1611 uses two spellings of the same name: Rebekah in Genesis and Rebecca in the New Testament reference at Romans 9:10.
In England the name was known in the Middle Ages but became noticeably more common in the 17th century, when Puritans and other Protestants who favored Old Testament names took it up. The spelling with k, Rebekah, was especially tied to that tradition and has remained in use alongside Rebecca. Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East continued to use Rivka for the same biblical figure.
Rebecca is also the name of well-known fictional characters, including Rebecca of York in Walter Scott's Ivanhoe (1819), Rebecca ("Becky") Sharp in Thackeray's Vanity Fair (1848), and the title character of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (1938). These are literary uses of a name that already existed, not its source.
Common short forms are Becky, Becca, and Reba, alongside the original Hebrew Rivka.
How Popular is the Name Rebecca?
Rebecca has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 72 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1940 to 2006.
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 | #350 | 872 | 0.0543% |
| 2024 | #342 | 910 | 0.0564% |
| 2023 | #315 | 984 | 0.0614% |
| 2022 | #296 | 1,074 | 0.0655% |
| 2021 | #304 | 1,049 | 0.0640% |
| 2020 | #249 | 1,211 | 0.0750% |
| 2019 | #264 | 1,260 | 0.0751% |
| 2018 | #211 | 1,459 | 0.0858% |
| 2017 | #214 | 1,433 | 0.0830% |
| 2016 | #205 | 1,578 | 0.0891% |
| 2015 | #189 | 1,728 | 0.0968% |
| 2014 | #181 | 1,781 | 0.0997% |
| 2013 | #177 | 1,805 | 0.1029% |
| 2012 | #157 | 2,019 | 0.1147% |
| 2011 | #148 | 2,118 | 0.1204% |
| 2010 | #134 | 2,298 | 0.1293% |
| 2009 | #132 | 2,471 | 0.1345% |
| 2008 | #118 | 2,920 | 0.1544% |
| 2007 | #105 | 3,215 | 0.1672% |
| 2006 | #96 | 3,571 | 0.1878% |
| 2005 | #81 | 4,017 | 0.2174% |
| 2004 | #70 | 4,472 | 0.2436% |
| 2003 | #63 | 4,869 | 0.2665% |
| 2002 | #54 | 5,222 | 0.2906% |
| 2001 | #46 | 5,893 | 0.3273% |
| 2000 | #39 | 7,078 | 0.3898% |
| 1999 | #38 | 7,437 | 0.4193% |
| 1998 | #30 | 8,423 | 0.4767% |
| 1997 | #25 | 9,632 | 0.5534% |
| 1996 | #24 | 10,626 | 0.6062% |
| 1995 | #28 | 9,910 | 0.5635% |
| 1994 | #24 | 11,283 | 0.6318% |
| 1993 | #22 | 12,321 | 0.6811% |
| 1992 | #20 | 13,110 | 0.7110% |
| 1991 | #21 | 13,300 | 0.7093% |
| 1990 | #21 | 13,675 | 0.7203% |
| 1989 | #24 | 12,435 | 0.6745% |
| 1988 | #26 | 11,876 | 0.6669% |
| 1987 | #25 | 11,626 | 0.6687% |
| 1986 | #26 | 11,793 | 0.6874% |
| 1985 | #25 | 12,704 | 0.7382% |
| 1984 | #23 | 13,349 | 0.7928% |
| 1983 | #19 | 14,714 | 0.8807% |
| 1982 | #15 | 15,729 | 0.9289% |
| 1981 | #12 | 16,737 | 1.0034% |
| 1980 | #17 | 15,280 | 0.9203% |
| 1979 | #17 | 14,550 | 0.9064% |
| 1978 | #17 | 13,795 | 0.9005% |
| 1977 | #17 | 14,196 | 0.9259% |
| 1976 | #12 | 14,490 | 0.9890% |
| 1975 | #11 | 13,926 | 0.9552% |
| 1974 | #10 | 15,165 | 1.0334% |
| 1973 | #10 | 14,869 | 1.0197% |
| 1972 | #14 | 13,253 | 0.8712% |
| 1971 | #23 | 12,192 | 0.7328% |
| 1970 | #29 | 10,855 | 0.6209% |
| 1969 | #28 | 10,950 | 0.6491% |
| 1968 | #33 | 10,225 | 0.6233% |
| 1967 | #39 | 9,823 | 0.5950% |
| 1966 | #40 | 9,777 | 0.5778% |
| 1965 | #41 | 10,210 | 0.5784% |
| 1964 | #46 | 9,475 | 0.5000% |
| 1963 | #44 | 9,392 | 0.4873% |
| 1962 | #47 | 9,403 | 0.4781% |
| 1961 | #44 | 10,237 | 0.5072% |
| 1960 | #38 | 9,970 | 0.4931% |
| 1959 | #38 | 10,474 | 0.5176% |
| 1958 | #41 | 10,416 | 0.5178% |
| 1957 | #34 | 11,482 | 0.5615% |
| 1956 | #27 | 12,170 | 0.6062% |
| 1955 | #27 | 12,397 | 0.6340% |
| 1954 | #26 | 13,208 | 0.6802% |
| 1953 | #24 | 12,961 | 0.6889% |
| 1952 | #30 | 12,226 | 0.6593% |
| 1951 | #32 | 10,931 | 0.6070% |
| 1950 | #36 | 9,426 | 0.5502% |
| 1949 | #40 | 8,778 | 0.5131% |
| 1948 | #50 | 6,795 | 0.4002% |
| 1947 | #52 | 6,333 | 0.3572% |
| 1946 | #68 | 4,840 | 0.3080% |
| 1945 | #85 | 3,331 | 0.2548% |
| 1944 | #84 | 3,246 | 0.2446% |
| 1943 | #87 | 3,270 | 0.2344% |
| 1942 | #85 | 3,241 | 0.2400% |
| 1941 | #86 | 2,924 | 0.2420% |
| 1940 | #96 | 2,555 | 0.2234% |
| 1939 | #134 | 1,796 | 0.1638% |
| 1938 | #145 | 1,574 | 0.1426% |
| 1937 | #166 | 1,210 | 0.1137% |
| 1936 | #164 | 1,200 | 0.1153% |
| 1935 | #163 | 1,208 | 0.1152% |
| 1934 | #165 | 1,161 | 0.1112% |
| 1933 | #169 | 1,072 | 0.1064% |
| 1932 | #162 | 1,191 | 0.1116% |
| 1931 | #170 | 1,089 | 0.1023% |
| 1930 | #176 | 1,114 | 0.0989% |
| 1929 | #181 | 1,084 | 0.0971% |
| 1928 | #183 | 1,121 | 0.0972% |
| 1927 | #170 | 1,260 | 0.1057% |
| 1926 | #185 | 1,144 | 0.0965% |
| 1925 | #183 | 1,203 | 0.0988% |
| 1924 | #171 | 1,358 | 0.1087% |
| 1923 | #174 | 1,274 | 0.1056% |
| 1922 | #173 | 1,296 | 0.1079% |
| 1921 | #175 | 1,272 | 0.1032% |
| 1920 | #175 | 1,269 | 0.1059% |
| 1919 | #170 | 1,267 | 0.1121% |
| 1918 | #172 | 1,243 | 0.1074% |
| 1917 | #165 | 1,215 | 0.1124% |
| 1916 | #169 | 1,132 | 0.1084% |
| 1915 | #159 | 1,169 | 0.1188% |
| 1914 | #162 | 890 | 0.1169% |
| 1913 | #158 | 739 | 0.1183% |
| 1912 | #144 | 754 | 0.1351% |
| 1911 | #148 | 546 | 0.1305% |
| 1910 | #154 | 519 | 0.1309% |
| 1909 | #151 | 470 | 0.1354% |
| 1908 | #149 | 451 | 0.1349% |
| 1907 | #159 | 400 | 0.1256% |
| 1906 | #150 | 397 | 0.1344% |
| 1905 | #148 | 402 | 0.1379% |
| 1904 | #146 | 371 | 0.1347% |
| 1903 | #154 | 334 | 0.1275% |
| 1902 | #144 | 382 | 0.1447% |
| 1901 | #144 | 342 | 0.1429% |
| 1900 | #126 | 503 | 0.1678% |
| 1899 | #135 | 347 | 0.1489% |
| 1898 | #136 | 376 | 0.1453% |
| 1897 | #129 | 376 | 0.1605% |
| 1896 | #128 | 371 | 0.1559% |
| 1895 | #122 | 386 | 0.1652% |
| 1894 | #118 | 399 | 0.1790% |
| 1893 | #121 | 358 | 0.1682% |
| 1892 | #125 | 353 | 0.1662% |
| 1891 | #123 | 320 | 0.1725% |
| 1890 | #107 | 374 | 0.1965% |
| 1889 | #114 | 337 | 0.1889% |
| 1888 | #111 | 337 | 0.1887% |
| 1887 | #110 | 275 | 0.1884% |
| 1886 | #95 | 355 | 0.2456% |
| 1885 | #99 | 302 | 0.2270% |
| 1884 | #102 | 278 | 0.2155% |
| 1883 | #103 | 244 | 0.2172% |
| 1882 | #99 | 259 | 0.2402% |
| 1881 | #96 | 226 | 0.2458% |
| 1880 | #92 | 236 | 0.2594% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | #10,532 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,034 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #9,659 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #13,946 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #11,730 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #8,157 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #4,103 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #10,574 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #8,273 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #9,016 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #8,035 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #5,960 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #5,753 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #5,998 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #5,118 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #4,454 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #4,050 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #3,342 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1992 | #3,312 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #2,283 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #1,933 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1989 | #1,153 | 85 | 0.0042% |
| 1988 | #1,787 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1987 | #1,526 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 1986 | #1,316 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1985 | #1,347 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1984 | #1,439 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1983 | #1,187 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 1982 | #1,145 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1981 | #1,151 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1980 | #1,373 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1979 | #1,285 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1978 | #1,198 | 56 | 0.0034% |
| 1977 | #1,155 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 1976 | #1,188 | 53 | 0.0034% |
| 1975 | #983 | 70 | 0.0045% |
| 1974 | #1,191 | 49 | 0.0031% |
| 1973 | #1,089 | 56 | 0.0036% |
| 1972 | #1,012 | 64 | 0.0039% |
| 1971 | #1,232 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1970 | #1,604 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1969 | #1,294 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #1,500 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1967 | #1,406 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1966 | #1,256 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1965 | #1,508 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #1,686 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #1,477 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1962 | #1,748 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #1,486 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #1,680 | 24 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #1,852 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #2,078 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,406 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1956 | #1,876 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #1,716 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #1,749 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #1,700 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #1,606 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #2,032 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #1,865 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #1,810 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #1,931 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,232 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,509 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #3,249 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,170 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #3,175 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #2,359 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,833 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,063 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #2,582 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #2,816 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #2,631 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,416 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #3,595 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #3,305 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1931 | #3,044 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #3,523 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #4,106 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,700 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #3,341 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #4,252 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,747 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #3,796 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #3,432 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #2,844 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #2,853 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #3,176 | 5 | 0.0010% |
| 1909 | #1,247 | 7 | 0.0043% |
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 Rebecca
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 Rebecca Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Rebecca's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rebecca's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.