Deborah
Deborah Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/
Meaning of Deborah: Deborah derives from the Hebrew word devorah, meaning bee. In the ancient Near East, the bee symbolized industry, community organization, and sweetness.
The name appears in the Old Testament for two figures: Rebekah's nurse (Genesis 35:8) and, most significantly, the prophetess and judge Deborah who led the Israelite army to victory against the Canaanites and composed the Song of Deborah (Judges 4-5).
Deborah of Lapidoth was the only female judge mentioned in the Book of Judges, leading Israel during the period of the tribal confederation before the monarchy.
What Does Deborah Mean? Origin & Etymology
Her role as military leader, prophet, and legal judge made her one of the most prominent women in the Hebrew Bible. The Song of Deborah is considered one of the oldest texts in the Old Testament.
Deborah entered English use through Puritan and Protestant naming traditions and became enormously popular in the United States in the mid-20th century.
It reached rank 2 for girls in 1954 with over 55,000 births recorded by SSA, and remained in the top 10 through 1961. The name has declined significantly since the 1970s.
In the United States, SSA records indicate that Deborah saw its strongest usage around the 1950s. The name belongs to a generation of choices that carried real cultural currency in their era — names that sounded both distinguished and approachable.
That combination drives the renewed interest some parents show in names like Deborah today, particularly those drawn to names their grandparents' generation considered solidly established.
Numerology & Symbolism of Deborah
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Deborah – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Deborah
What does Deborah mean?
Deborah means bee in Hebrew, from devorah. The bee symbolized industry and community in ancient Near Eastern culture. It is the name of the prophetess and judge who led the Israelite army against the Canaanites in the Book of Judges.
What does the name Deborah mean?
From Hebrew ‘devorah’ meaning bee; a biblical heroine and prophetess who led Israel’s armies, popular among Puritans and a top-10 American name in the 1950s.
Who was the biblical Deborah?
Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge mentioned in the Book of Judges. She led the Israelite army to victory against the Canaanites and composed the Song of Deborah (Judges 4-5), one of the oldest texts in the Old Testament.
Where does the name Deborah come from?
Deborah has its origins in Hebrew tradition. Names from this linguistic background spread through Europe and into North America over centuries, carrying their original meanings into new cultural contexts.
How popular was Deborah in the US?
Deborah ranked 2 for US girls in 1954, with over 55,000 SSA births. It remained in the top 10 through 1961, making it one of the dominant names of the 1950s generation. Use declined sharply from the 1970s onward.
Is Deborah a popular name?
Deborah saw its strongest US popularity around 1955, according to SSA records. It is not among the most common names today, which makes it a distinctive choice for parents who want a name with historical grounding but without high current frequency.
Is Deborah still used today?
Deborah is uncommon in modern US naming. It is associated with women born in the 1950s and 1960s. The short form Debbie was widely used in the same era. Both forms are rarely given to children today.