Debra
A feminine given name derived from a Hebrew phrase meaning "bee".
Name Census estimates that about 413,951 living Americans carry the first name Debra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Debra today is around 66 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Debra births was 1955 (50,635 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Debra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Although Debra is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 1,147 boys registered with the name since 1880.
- • The typical person named Debra is about 66 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Debras were born before 1970.
- • Compared to the 1950s, recent registration numbers for Debra have dropped to less than 5% of what they once were.
People living today
414K
~ 1 in 828 Americans
Peak year
1955
50,635 babies that year
Average age
66
years old
1984 SSA rank
#3,581
Tracked since 1914
Gender
Gender distribution for Debra
Out of the 551,809 babies given the name Debra since 1880, 99.8% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Debra as a male name
- Ranked #6,536 in 1984
- 5 male births in 1984
- Peak: 1956 (90 births)
Debra as a female name
- Ranked #3,581 in 2024
- 43 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1955 (50,560 births)
Popularity
Debra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Debra from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 341,938 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Debra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Debra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Debras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 51 states and territories. California, New York, Illinois recorded the most babies named Debra, while Delaware, Alaska, Nevada recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10,747 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Debra
Debra is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "devorah," which means "bee" in Hebrew. The name has been in use since ancient times, dating back to the biblical period.
The earliest recorded use of the name Debra can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it is mentioned as the name of a prophetess and judge in ancient Israel. According to the Book of Judges, Debra was a wise and courageous leader who guided the Israelites against their oppressors.
In the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity among Jewish communities across Europe. It was often spelled as "Deborah" or "Devorah," reflecting its Hebrew roots. During this period, the name was associated with strength, wisdom, and leadership, qualities that were admired in women of that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Debra in history is Debra of Hungary, a 13th-century noblewoman and landowner. She is known for her philanthropic efforts and for founding several monasteries and churches in Hungary during her lifetime.
Another notable figure bearing the name Debra was Debra of Anjou, a 14th-century Princess of Naples and Countess of Anjou. She played a significant role in the political intrigues and conflicts of her time and was known for her intelligence and cunning.
In the 16th century, Debra Sampson, an American woman, gained fame for disguising herself as a man and serving in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Her bravery and determination made her a celebrated figure in American history.
The name Debra also has a rich literary history. Debra Vickers was a character in the 19th-century novel "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens, portrayed as a strong-willed and independent woman.
In more recent times, notable figures with the name Debra include Debra Winger, an American actress born in 1955, known for her roles in films such as "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Terms of Endearment." Debra Hill, born in 1950, was an American film producer and screenwriter, best known for her work on the iconic horror film "Halloween."
Notable bearers
Famous people named Debra
People
Debra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Debra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Debra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Debra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 413,951 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Debra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 828 US residents.
Is Debra a common name?
We classify Debra as "Common". It ranks above 99.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 551,809 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Debra most popular?
The single biggest year for Debra was 1955, when 50,635 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Debra is about 66 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Debra a female name?
Yes, 99.8% of people registered as Debra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.