Rebecca Name Meaning

Rebecca is a strong and timeless name that has been around for centuries that means “to bind”. It’s a name that represents beauty, wisdom, and intelligence. It also connotes a sense of tradition and history. It is a name that has been passed down through generations, and it’s likely to continue to be popular for many years to come.

Origins of the Name Rebecca

The name Rebecca comes from the Hebrew language, and it means “to bind” or “to tie.” It’s derived from the word “ribkah,” which is related to the verb “r-b-k,” meaning “to tie a knot.” In the Bible, Rebecca is the name of the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She is considered a strong and intelligent woman, known for her beauty and wisdom.

Popularity of the Name Rebecca

Rebecca’s rise to popularity can be traced back to the 18th century, when the name began to appear more frequently in literature and plays. In 1740, the novel “Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded” was published, which featured a character named Rebecca. The book was a huge success, and it’s believed that this helped to boost the name’s popularity.

In the 19th century, the name Rebecca continued to gain popularity, especially in the United States. In 1880, it was the 18th most popular name for girls in the US. And by the turn of the 20th century, it had risen to the 11th most popular name.

The name’s popularity continued to grow in the 20th century, peaking in the 1980s at number 11 on the list of the most popular names. However, Rebecca’s popularity has decreased in the 21st century, but it’s still a classic and timeless name, that’s always been present in the top 100 most popular names.

Rebecca has been a popular name in literature, television and movies. One of the most notable examples is Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel “Rebecca,” which tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower and becomes the second Mrs. de Winter. The novel was a bestseller and was later adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

In recent years, the name Rebecca has been used in the popular TV series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” where the main character is named Rebecca Bunch. The show has been praised for its comedic and musical elements, which has helped to further popularize the name among audiences.

Final Thoughts on the Name Rebecca

Rebecca is a classic and timeless name that has a rich history and meaning. It’s a name that represents beauty, wisdom, and intelligence. And it’s a name that has stood the test of time, remaining popular for centuries. So, whether you’re a new parent looking for a name for your little girl, or simply someone who’s curious about the history of names, Rebecca is definitely a name worth considering.

Infographic of Rebecca name meaning, which is Rebecca is a Hebrew name meaning to join or to bind.
Ask your friends & family about Rebecca…

Rebecca Name Popularity

How popular is the name Rebecca? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 482 0.1369%
1911 — 506 0.1359%
1912 — 718 0.1424%
1913 — 684 0.1206%
1914 — 850 0.122%
1915 — 1,132 0.1246%
1916 — 1,091 0.1129%
1917 — 1,196 0.1195%
1918 — 1,221 0.1138%
1919 — 1,238 0.1182%
1920 — 1,230 0.1106%
1921 — 1,254 0.1095%
1922 — 1,268 0.1138%
1923 — 1,246 0.1112%
1924 — 1,330 0.1145%
1925 — 1,167 0.1032%
1926 — 1,111 0.101%
1927 — 1,213 0.1096%
1928 — 1,082 0.1011%
1929 — 1,061 0.1024%
1930 — 1,083 0.1037%
1931 — 1,046 0.106%
1932 — 1,153 0.1167%
1933 — 1,037 0.1113%
1934 — 1,139 0.1178%
1935 — 1,181 0.1215%
1936 — 1,158 0.1202%
1937 — 1,169 0.1186%
1938 — 1,554 0.1518%
1939 — 1,779 0.1749%
1940 — 2,527 0.2377%
1941 — 2,909 0.2585%
1942 — 3,222 0.2552%
1943 — 3,252 0.2491%
1944 — 3,221 0.2599%
1945 — 3,317 0.272%
1946 — 4,837 0.3278%
1947 — 6,330 0.3792%
1948 — 6,791 0.4254%
1949 — 8,775 0.5455%
1950 — 9,427 0.5855%
1951 — 10,931 0.6447%
1952 — 12,228 0.7005%
1953 — 12,960 0.7323%
1954 — 13,209 0.7226%
1955 — 12,396 0.6739%
1956 — 12,171 0.6444%
1957 — 11,487 0.597%
1958 — 10,404 0.5505%
1959 — 10,475 0.5513%
1960 — 9,967 0.526%
1961 — 10,234 0.5421%
1962 — 9,407 0.5124%
1963 — 9,392 0.5232%
1964 — 9,472 0.5381%
1965 — 10,215 0.6247%
1966 — 9,776 0.6261%
1967 — 9,819 0.647%
1968 — 10,227 0.6811%
1969 — 10,952 0.7109%
1970 — 10,855 0.6821%
1971 — 12,194 0.8115%
1972 — 13,255 0.9732%
1973 — 14,870 1.147%
1974 — 15,166 1.1669%
1975 — 13,926 1.0837%
1976 — 14,491 1.1243%
1977 — 14,194 1.053%
1978 — 13,800 1.0264%
1979 — 14,547 1.0317%
1980 — 15,279 1.045%
1981 — 16,740 1.1388%
1982 — 15,728 1.0525%
1983 — 14,712 0.997%
1984 — 13,346 0.8972%
1985 — 12,702 0.8369%
1986 — 11,788 0.7809%
1987 — 11,631 0.7622%
1988 — 11,869 0.7616%
1989 — 12,433 0.7705%
1990 — 13,672 0.8249%
1991 — 13,298 0.8159%
1992 — 13,111 0.8214%
1993 — 12,318 0.7901%
1994 — 11,279 0.735%
1995 — 9,905 0.6572%
1996 — 10,624 0.7095%
1997 — 9,628 0.651%
1998 — 8,419 0.5625%
1999 — 7,428 0.496%
2000 — 7,063 0.4624%
2001 — 5,883 0.3904%
2002 — 5,212 0.3478%
2003 — 4,858 0.3193%
2004 — 4,456 0.2924%
2005 — 4,007 0.2621%
2006 — 3,560 0.2274%
2007 — 3,206 0.2032%
2008 — 2,901 0.1877%
2009 — 2,451 0.164%
2010 — 2,285 0.1586%
2011 — 2,097 0.1472%
2012 — 1,996 0.1401%
2013 — 1,784 0.1253%
2014 — 1,758 0.1207%
2015 — 1,687 0.1159%
2016 — 1,554 0.1078%
2017 — 1,399 0.1002%
2018 — 1,419 0.1033%
2019 — 1,216 0.0898%
2020 — 1,159 0.0911%
2021 — 899 0.0735%
2022 — 1,022 0.0775%
2023 — 952 0.0736%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Rebecca

If you like Rebecca, you’ll love these other names like Rebecca.


What names are diminutives of Rebecca?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Rebecca sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Rebecca, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Becky

A diminutive of Rebecca, “the temptress with the tender trap.”

Hebrew

Reba

A diminutive form of Rebecca.

Hebrew


What names are variants of Rebecca?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Rebecca.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Becca

Short form of Rebecca

Hebrew

Beck

Stream

English

Becka

To bind

Hebrew

Beckah

To bind

Hebrew

Becke

To bind

Hebrew

Beckee

To bind

Hebrew

Becker

To bind

Hebrew

Beckey

To bind

Hebrew

Becki

To bind

Hebrew

Beckie

To bind

Hebrew

Becky

A diminutive of Rebecca, “the temptress with the tender trap.”

Hebrew

Beki

To bind

Hebrew

Bekka

To bind

Hebrew

Bekki

To bind

Hebrew

Bekkie

To bind

Hebrew

Reba

A diminutive form of Rebecca.

Hebrew

Rebakah

To bind

Hebrew

Rebba

To bind

Hebrew

Rebbeca

To bind

Hebrew

Rebbecca

To bind

Hebrew

Rebbecka

To bind

Hebrew

Rebbie

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeca

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeccah

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeccea

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeccka

To bind

Hebrew

Rebecha

To bind

Hebrew

Rebecka

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeckah

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeckia

To bind

Hebrew

Rebecky

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeha

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeka

To bind

Hebrew

Rebekah

To bind

Hebrew

Rebekha

To bind

Hebrew

Rebekka

To bind

Hebrew

Rebekkah

To bind

Hebrew

Rebekke

To bind

Hebrew

Rebeque

To bind

Hebrew

Ree

To bind

Hebrew

Reeba

To bind

Hebrew

Reveka

To bind

Hebrew

Revekah

To bind

Hebrew

Revekka

To bind

Hebrew

Rheba

To bind

Hebrew

Ribecca

To bind

Hebrew

Riva

Maiden

Hebrew

Rivah

To bind

Hebrew

Rivalee

To bind

Hebrew

Rivekka

To bind

Hebrew

Rivi

To bind

Hebrew

Rivka

To bind

Hebrew

Rivkah

To bind

Hebrew

Rivy

To bind

Hebrew


Lists With Rebecca

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Rebecca.


Siblings of Rebecca

Mamas with kids named Rebecca also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Michael

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Megan

Pearl

Welsh

Katherine

Pure

Greek

Audrey

Noble strength

English

Samuel

Name of God

Hebrew

Neriah

Lamp of God

Hebrew

15 Comments

  1. My grandmom’s name was Riwiekka, she was born in Minsk and was killed during WW2 in Ghetto. My mom survived. Her name was Sarah. When I was born she gave me her mother’s name. Later some of my friends called me Rikka or Bekki.
    When I had been studying in the Uni in Vilnius , Professor of linguistics told me that my name is Rebecca according to linguistic rules when is being written in Latin. I love my name very much. It is as beautiful as my grandma was. It is a special name that connects me to G’D. I am very proud to have it.

  2. My Dad Gave Me This Name From His Aunt who raised him. He said, she was a Strong Woman,with a Heart Of GOLD, Stood Her Ground & Never Stepped Down….I Also Have A Twin Sister, Her Name Is Ruth Ann,
    she’s named after Our Mothers ~ Mother. Both Out of the Bible ~~~ AMEN BLESSED

  3. My mother told me she had read the book and said if I have a daughter, I will call her Rebecca. My mother enjoyed the book and no doubt the name! What do I think? I am pleased about this. I may as well say I am over the moon! My friends call me Rebecca, my boss calls me becky, most probably as it is quicker to say and my brother calls me becks! Whatever they choose, it does not matter to me. As well as reading the book, have you seen the film enjoy watching this, highly recommended! Keep me posted! xx RG

  4. I don’t like the name for me.
    I have a friend w/same name but spelled different. (Rebekah) I like that.

  5. It is the best name because It is my name and I am the best.

  6. I chose the name Rebecca after my grandmother and Rebekah in the Bible. They are both strong women and I hope she grows to be strong like them.

    I like how romantic the name sounds however I am not a fan of most nicknames associated with it.

  7. I love Rebecca because it is nice name ever I wanted since I was child and it is good character in the bible

    • I also love the name rebecca because my dad gave it to me. I always give my dadd good gock gock. He likes it a lot and gives me yum yum juice. If you want to get some of that gock gock, please contact me at
      +1 (865) 469-5056

  8. Not many people I know have this name and so unique and beautiful. Plus my older daughter name is clarissa and so Rebecca and Clarissa sound cute when I call them . Also Clarissa has as and Rebecca has cc.

  9. My husband really liked this name. Our older daughter name is clarissa and has ss so Rebecca was cc so it sounds cute when we call Clarissa Rebecca. Also Rebecca has cute nick names like Becca, Becky.

  10. It was my mom’s name

    • It was my dad’s name too

  11. Hehehehe The Originals. Her name is Rebecca Hope <3

    • We always tease at Rebecca’s and say ca ca. Kind f seems silly to have 2 C’s. My oldest daughter is also Rebekah. It’s a family name that we love.

  12. It is a strong, bright, happy name. It suits our Rebecca Marie.


Share your thoughts on the name Rebecca

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required *

*