Girl name · Hebrew
Deborah
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: a beeDeborah is a girl's name that comes from Hebrew and means "a bee". It is used in English and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- A bee
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #864 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Deborah
As a girl's name, Deborah comes from Hebrew and means "a bee". It is used in English and Hebrew.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Deborah on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Deborah on 5 lists.
“Bee; Hebrew. Prophetess and judge, Judges 4”
From Biblical names, women of the Old Testament
“Hebrew name meaning bee”
From Bee names, names that mean bee
“A full name, never shortened, for a serious pet”
From Outrageous pet names, human names for pets
“Bee; Hebrew. A biblical prophetess and judge who rallied an army with Barak”
From Strong female names, goddess and legendary heroine names
“Bee; Hebrew. A biblical judge and prophet; #2 in 1955”
From Vintage girl names, 1930s to 1950s girl names
How popular is Deborah?
- US rank in 2025
- #864
- 313 babies, 195 per million girls
- Best rank
- #2 in 1955
- Most babies: 54,674 in 1954
- Babies since 1880
- At least 742,820
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 109 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 82 per million |
| 1900s | 77 per million |
| 1910s | 80 per million |
| 1920s | 90 per million |
| 1930s | 263 per million |
| 1940s | 3,041 per million |
| 1950s | 22,384 per million |
| 1960s | 10,043 per million |
| 1970s | 3,097 per million |
| 1980s | 861 per million |
| 1990s | 421 per million |
| 2000s | 232 per million |
| 2010s | 196 per million |
| 2020s | 183 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #823 | #773 | #781 | #900 | #904 | #910 | #911 | #968 | #854 | #864 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Deborah
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Debcommon English nickname
- Debbiecommon English nickname
Other forms of Deborah
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- DeboraA bee (Hebrew, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- MelissaHoney bee (Greek, girl)
- MelisBee (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Deborah
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
- AliceNobility, of noble kind (Germanic, girl)
- AnneFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- BriarThorny shrub (Old English, unisex)
- IoneViolet flower (Greek, girl)
- JoyGladness, delight (English, girl)
- NaomiPleasantness, sweetness (Hebrew, girl)
- OpalPrecious stone (Sanskrit, girl)
- WrenSmall brown songbird (Old English, unisex)
More girl names from Hebrew
- AnnaFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- EvaLiving, life (Hebrew, girl)
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- SarahPrincess, noblewoman (Hebrew, girl)
- EliseGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- LisaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- DanielaGod is my judge (Hebrew, girl)
- ElsaGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- HannahFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- IsabelGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
Deborah: common questions
What does the name Deborah mean?
Deborah comes from Hebrew and means "a bee".
Is Deborah a boy or girl name?
Deborah is mainly a girl's name.
What are nicknames for Deborah?
Common nicknames for Deborah include Deb and Debbie.
How popular is the name Deborah?
Deborah ranked #864 in the US in 2025, with 313 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Deborah?
Forms of Deborah with the same meaning and origin include Debora (Italian).
What middle names go with Deborah?
Middle names that flow well with Deborah include Alice, Anne, Briar, Ione and Joy. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.