Rebecca
Rebecca is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
To tie, bind, or snare; historically interpreted as captivating or joining.
Origin and history
Rebecca is a classic feminine name derived from the Hebrew name Rivkah. In the Hebrew Bible, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. It has been a consistently popular name in the English-speaking world for centuries, remaining widely recognized in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
755,992 babies in the United States have been named Rebecca since 1880. It ranks #30 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #309.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.9 %)
- TX (7.3 %)
- OH (5.6 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,849 |
| 1890-1900 | 3,660 |
| 1900-1910 | 4,052 |
| 1910-1920 | 9,474 |
| 1920-1930 | 12,281 |
| 1930-1940 | 12,615 |
| 1940-1950 | 45,313 |
| 1950-1960 | 115,690 |
| 1960-1970 | 99,462 |
| 1970-1980 | 137,285 |
| 1980-1990 | 136,248 |
| 1990-2000 | 109,721 |
| 2000-2010 | 43,741 |
| 2010-2019 | 17,488 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,113 |
Famous people named Rebecca
- Rebecca Romijn: Actress, Model
- Rebecca Ferguson: Actress
- Rebecca Hall: Actress, Director
Nicknames
Becca, Becky, Bex, Reba
Fun facts
- In the Book of Genesis, Rebecca is celebrated for her hospitality and beauty when chosen to marry Isaac.
- The name gained widespread literary popularity in the 19th century, notably in Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe and later in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.