Debra Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Debra originates from Hebrew, meaning 'bee', and has evolved from D'vorah through Latin forms. The name has biblical significance as it relates to Deborah, a prominent figure in the Bible. While it was widely used in the mid-20th century, its popularity has waned in modern times. Variants of the name include Debbie and Deborah, and it is associated with a classic feminine image.
The name Debra is most popular in Wyoming, 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, Debra has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, 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 male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, 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, 'Debra' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1119th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2363rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10179th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3742nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 849th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 61st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 375th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1606th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3489th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Debra' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Debra"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛbrə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Debra is derived from the Hebrew name 'D'vorah', which means 'bee'.
Meaning
bee
Language Evolution
D'vorah (Hebrew), Debora (Latin), Debra (Modern English)
Biblical Background
The name Debra is associated with the biblical figure Deborah, a prophetess and judge in Israel.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Debbie, Deb, Deborah
Modern Popularity & Image
Debra is often perceived as a classic and feminine name, though it has seen a decline in popularity in recent years.
Famous People
Debra Messing, Debra Winger, Debra Morgan
Explore More Debra Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Debra"
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 "Debra"
"Debra" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1119th of 7552 | 852 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2363rd of 10718 | 264 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10179th of 16616 | 31 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3742nd of 9107 | 106 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 849th of 9204 | 1,313 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11th of 12526 | 448,106 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 61st of 19264 | 87,787 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 375th of 27321 | 10,786 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1606th of 35406 | 2,023 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3489th of 30306 | 541 |
Regional Popularity of "Debra" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
41.18% 917th/2227 |
43.46% 1056th/2430 |
46.27% 1320th/2853 |
37.12% 1030th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
60.24% 2098th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Debra" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
47.28% 731st/1546 |
36.12% 562nd/1556 |
52.27% 1230th/2353 |
51.78% 801st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
0.40% 9th/2227 |
0.66% 16th/2430 |
0.46% 13th/2853 |
0.25% 7th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
1.84% 54th/2937 |
1.58% 55th/3483 |
1.82% 64th/3518 |
1.85% 75th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.20% 339th/3685 |
7.93% 355th/4475 |
6.53% 339th/5194 |
7.88% 498th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
32.74% 1500th/4582 |
26.39% 1363rd/5164 |
22.81% 1668th/7313 |
30.90% 2306th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
84.49% 3366th/3984 |
50.39% 2261st/4487 |
65.92% 4497th/6822 |
73.34% 4603rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Debra"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Debra" 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.