Debra
Debra is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Bee.
Origin and history
Debra is a classic feminine name derived from the Hebrew name Deborah, meaning 'bee'. It experienced massive popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, ranking among the top female names of the 1950s. Today, it is much less commonly given to newborns but remains widely recognized.
Popularity in the United States
550,695 babies in the United States have been named Debra since 1880. It ranks #56 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1870.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.1 %)
- NY (7.2 %)
- IL (6.2 %)
- TX (5.7 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 41 |
| 1920-1930 | 94 |
| 1930-1940 | 468 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,429 |
| 1950-1960 | 341,348 |
| 1960-1970 | 153,771 |
| 1970-1980 | 34,605 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,823 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,125 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,213 |
| 2010-2019 | 547 |
| 2020-2029 | 231 |
Famous people named Debra
- Debra Winger: Actress
- Debra Messing: Actress
Nicknames
Deb, Debbie, Debi
Fun facts
- Debra was one of the most popular girls' names in the United States during the 1950s, holding a spot in the top 10 for several consecutive years.
- It originated as a streamlined spelling variant of the ancient Biblical Hebrew name Deborah.