Deborah

Deborah - A very unique female name

Deborah appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #712. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Deborah and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Deborah? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Deborah. The baby girl name Deborah was given to 268 baby girls in 2025, ranking #860 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 4,864 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Deborah peaked in popularity 71 years ago in 1955 on position 2.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Deborah, 1-5?

Deborah is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Deborah is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #433 - and is the least popular in Michigan at position #1,263.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Deborah is where you live.

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Deborah origin and meaning

Hebrew

From Hebrew Devorah, 'bee'

Deborah is the Old Testament prophetess and judge who led Israel, one of the strongest female figures in the Bible. As a given name it was a giant of the 1950s, peaking in 1954, and after a long decline it has begun rising again from a low base.

Attested etymology

Deborah is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Deborah, pop culture references for the name Deborah and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Deborah

We've found the following names that sound similar to Deborah, sorted by popularity.

Debra / Debora / Devorah / Debrah / Debbra / Devora / Debroah / Debera / Deborha / Deborrah /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Deborah

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Deborah a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Deborah?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

DEB-ruh · /ˈdɛbrə/
The full three-syllable DEB-uh-ruh is also used, especially for the biblical figure

Around the world

• Devorah (Hebrew) — The original Hebrew form

Spellings and nicknames

• Debra — The streamlined spelling that rivalled Deborah in the 1950s
• Debora — A continental spelling

Nicknames: DebDebbieDebs

Famous bearers

• Deborah — Prophetess and judge of Israel in the Book of Judges (Biblical) Historical
• Deborah Kerr — Scottish actress known for The King and I and From Here to Eternity (1921–2007) Contemporary
• Deborah Messing — American actress known for Will & Grace; her given name is Deborah (b. 1968) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choosing Deborah now are reaching for a biblical name with real stature that the 1950s boom has finally let rest — Deb is optional, the full form does the work.

Worth knowing

• Many people still hear it as a 1950s name, and Debbie is assumed even when it is not used