Deborah
How to say it: DEB-uh-ruh · /ˈdɛbərə/
From Hebrew Devorah meaning 'bee'; borne by a prophetess and judge in the Hebrew Bible.
Deborah was the 791st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 313 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 10% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #809 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #791 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 313 |
| Share of births | 1 in 10,592 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −10% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #809 |
| In France, 2025 | #667 among girls’ names, 50 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Deborah ruled the 1950s and has thinned out ever since. Now far below that high, it looks set to slip further.
What goes with it
Crisp consonants shape its rolling sound, pronounced DEB uh ruh, with a biblical gravity. Rachel shares its spirit.
Parents who love Deborah also love
Nicknames
- Debbie
- Deb
- Debby
Honouring a Deborah in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Deborah is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #667 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Deborah
- Deborah Kerr (1921–2007)British actress
- Deborah Ann Woll (born 1985)American actress
- Deborah Kara Unger (born 1966)Canadian actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Deborah
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Deborah
The one-minute style quiz.