Becky Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Becky is a diminutive of the Hebrew name Rebecca, meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie'. It evolved from Rebecca and Rebekah, becoming popular in the 18th century due to literary influences. The name is often associated with friendliness and has varying cultural perceptions.
The name Becky is most popular in Idaho, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Becky has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Becky' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4051st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4718th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1481st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 454th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 150th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 178th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 577th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2572nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3659th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Becky' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Becky"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɛki/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Becky is derived from the Hebrew name 'Rebecca', which means 'to bind' or 'to tie'. It became popular as a diminutive form in English-speaking countries.
Meaning
to bind, to tie
Language Evolution
Rebecca, Rebekah, Becky
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 18th century, particularly through literary works and its association with the character Becky Sharp from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel 'Vanity Fair' published in 1847.
Variants & Derivatives
Becky, Becca, Rebekah
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Becky is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, though it has also been associated with certain stereotypes in popular culture.
Famous People
Becky G (singer), Becky Lynch (professional wrestler), Becky Chambers (author)
Explore More Becky Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Becky"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Becky"
"Becky" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4051st of 7552 | 68 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4718th of 10718 | 76 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1481st of 9107 | 511 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 454th of 9204 | 4,233 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 150th of 12526 | 48,014 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 178th of 19264 | 26,387 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 577th of 27321 | 6,070 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2572nd of 35406 | 1,044 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3659th of 30306 | 511 |
Regional Popularity of "Becky" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Becky" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 1416th/1416 |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- |
94.57% 1080th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
23.16% 358th/1546 |
44.73% 696th/1556 |
17.93% 422nd/2353 |
25.08% 388th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.43% 121st/2227 |
12.59% 306th/2430 |
5.19% 148th/2853 |
4.47% 124th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
4.63% 136th/2937 |
8.21% 286th/3483 |
5.71% 201st/3518 |
4.15% 168th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
11.40% 420th/3685 |
15.51% 694th/4475 |
11.92% 619th/5194 |
10.08% 637th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
79.11% 3625th/4582 |
33.62% 1736th/5164 |
43.35% 3170th/7313 |
27.58% 2058th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
61.96% 2780th/4487 |
53.61% 3657th/6822 |
43.59% 2736th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Becky"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Becky" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.