Debbie Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Debbie is a diminutive of the Hebrew name Deborah, meaning 'bee.' It evolved from Deborah to Debbie in English, reflecting a trend of creating affectionate forms of names. The name is associated with biblical significance through the figure of Deborah, a leader in the Hebrew Bible. While popular in the mid-20th century, its usage has waned in contemporary times.
The name Debbie is most popular in Wyoming, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West 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, Debbie has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, 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 male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Debbie' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1913th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3976th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2473rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1054th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 54th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 149th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 728th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2599th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5007th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Debbie' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Debbie"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛbi/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Debbie is a diminutive form of the name Deborah, which originates from the Hebrew word 'דְּבוֹרָה' (D'vorah) meaning 'bee.'
Meaning
bee
Language Evolution
Deborah, Debora, Debbie
Biblical Background
Debbie is derived from Deborah, a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible who was a prophetess and a leader of Israel.
Historical Usage
The name Debbie gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the mid-20th century as a common diminutive for Deborah.
Variants & Derivatives
Deb, Debra, Debbie
Modern Popularity & Image
Debbie is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, though its popularity has declined in recent years.
Famous People
Debbie Reynolds, Debbie Harry, Debbie Gibson
Explore More Debbie Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Debbie"
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 "Debbie"
"Debbie" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1913th of 7552 | 327 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3976th of 10718 | 108 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2473rd of 9107 | 228 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1054th of 9204 | 902 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 54th of 12526 | 148,613 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 149th of 19264 | 32,351 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 728th of 27321 | 4,268 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2599th of 35406 | 1,030 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5007th of 30306 | 318 |
Regional Popularity of "Debbie" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
70.66% 2016th/2853 |
54.52% 1513th/2775 |
| 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 "Debbie" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
56.02% 866th/1546 |
45.18% 703rd/1556 |
72.84% 1714th/2353 |
53.65% 830th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
2.38% 53rd/2227 |
3.54% 86th/2430 |
1.51% 43rd/2853 |
1.30% 36th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.52% 162nd/2937 |
5.43% 189th/3483 |
4.09% 144th/3518 |
3.44% 139th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
28.96% 1067th/3685 |
15.49% 693rd/4475 |
14.38% 747th/5194 |
9.72% 614th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
93.37% 4278th/4582 |
41.79% 2158th/5164 |
35.05% 2563rd/7313 |
25.66% 1915th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
61.09% 2741st/4487 |
70.74% 4826th/6822 |
63.62% 3993rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Debbie"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Debbie" 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.