Rebecca first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rebecca has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rebecca

A feminine name derived from Hebrew meaning "securely bound".

Popularity of Rebecca by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rebecca is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Rebecca being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 977 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rebecca.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 977
2022 0 1,065
2021 0 1,044
2020 0 1,206
2019 0 1,258
2018 0 1,454
2017 7 1,431
2016 0 1,578
2015 0 1,724
2014 0 1,780
2013 0 1,802
2012 0 2,017
2011 0 2,117
2010 0 2,298
2009 5 2,468
2008 7 2,918
2007 5 3,215
2006 6 3,569
2005 9 4,015
2004 22 4,468
2003 6 4,868
2002 8 5,217
2001 7 5,892
2000 8 7,075
1999 11 7,435
1998 11 8,423
1997 10 9,632
1996 12 10,628
1995 14 9,907
1994 16 11,283
1993 20 12,321
1992 20 13,110
1991 32 13,298
1990 40 13,674
1989 84 12,433
1988 40 11,876
1987 47 11,630
1986 56 11,792
1985 52 12,704
1984 45 13,348
1983 59 14,713
1982 64 15,728
1981 64 16,738
1980 48 15,280
1979 52 14,549
1978 56 13,800
1977 58 14,194
1976 53 14,491
1975 70 13,926
1974 49 15,165

The history of the first name Rebecca

The name Rebecca has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Rivkah," which means "to tie" or "to bind." The name is believed to have originated around the 2nd millennium BCE.

Rebecca is a prominent name in the Bible, being the name of the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. Her story is recounted in the Book of Genesis, where she is described as beautiful and virtuous. Rebecca's name is mentioned numerous times in the biblical text, making it one of the earliest recorded instances of the name.

The name Rebecca gained popularity among early Christians, who often named their daughters after figures from the Old Testament. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Rebecca, a 4th-century Christian martyr who was killed during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

During the Middle Ages, the name Rebecca was relatively uncommon in Europe, likely due to its Hebrew origins. However, it experienced a resurgence in popularity during the Protestant Reformation, when many Protestants turned to the Old Testament for inspiration in naming their children.

One of the most famous historical figures named Rebecca was Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869), a pioneering American Jewish educator and philanthropist. She was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions in Philadelphia and advocating for the rights of Jewish people.

Another notable bearer of the name was Rebecca Felton (1835-1930), an American woman's rights activist, writer, and politician. She became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate in 1922, although her term was brief and honorary.

Rebecca West (1892-1983) was a renowned English novelist, journalist, and critic. She is best known for her novels "The Return of the Soldier" and "The Fountain Overflows," as well as her incisive literary criticism.

Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835-1930) was an American writer, teacher, and political activist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in Georgia. She was also the first woman to be appointed to the United States Senate, serving for a single day in 1922.

Rebecca Alie (1888-1987) was a pioneering African-American chemist and educator. She was the first African-American woman to receive a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago and later became a professor at several historically Black colleges and universities.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rebecca was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rebecca, please contact us.

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"Rebecca first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rebecca-meaning-and-history/.

"Rebecca first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rebecca-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 3 December, 2024

Rebecca first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rebecca-meaning-and-history/.

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