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

Popularity of Rebekah by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 248 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rebekah.

The history of the first name Rebekah

The name Rebekah is a feminine given name with Hebrew origins. It is derived from the Biblical Hebrew name Rivkah, which comes from the Hebrew word "rāvaq" meaning "to tie" or "to bind". The name Rebekah is a transliteration of the original Hebrew name into English.

In the Hebrew Bible, Rebekah was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. Her story is told in the Book of Genesis, where she is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman who helped her son Jacob secure his father's blessing. The name Rebekah has been popular among Jewish and Christian communities for centuries due to its Biblical significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rebekah can be found in the Septuagint, the earliest known Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE. In this text, the name is spelled "Ρεβέκκα" (Rebékka).

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Rebekah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Rebekah Nurse (c. 1621-1692), a woman executed during the Salem Witch Trials. Another famous Rebekah was Rebekah Hyneman (1677-1752), a Jewish businesswoman and philanthropist in colonial America.

In the 19th century, Rebekah Baines Johnson (1828-1909) was the mother of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. Rebekah Merrill (1825-1899) was an American educator and pioneer in women's education, founding the Rebekah Merrill Home for Destitute Children in Boston.

In the 20th century, Rebekah West (1892-1983) was a notable English novelist and literary critic, while Rebekah Teasdale (1884-1964) was an American poet and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1918.

The name Rebekah has remained popular throughout the centuries, especially in English-speaking countries with Christian and Jewish populations. Its Biblical origins and historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal as a feminine given name.

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 Rebekah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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