Debra Girl

Popularity: #917 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DEB-rah //ˈdɛb.rə//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: bee; English: derived from Deborah

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Debra has its roots in the Hebrew language, originating from the word 'דְבוֹרָה' (Devorah), which means 'bee.' This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Judges, where Deborah is depicted as a prophetess and a leader of Israel during a time of oppression, around the 12th century BCE. The name was later adopted into Greek as 'Debora' and subsequently into Latin, maintaining its original meaning.

The transition into English occurred through the Old French form 'Debora,' which was introduced during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, leading to the modern English spelling 'Debra.' Throughout history, the name has been borne by various notable figures, including Deborah, the biblical judge, who is celebrated for her wisdom and leadership. The name gained further prominence in Christian contexts, particularly during the Renaissance, as biblical names became fashionable among European nobility and the emerging middle class.

The King James Bible, published in 1611, contributed to the name's visibility in English-speaking cultures, as it provided a standardized version of biblical texts that included the story of Deborah. Culturally, the name Debra has been associated with qualities such as strength, leadership, and nurturing, reflecting the characteristics of its biblical namesake.

The enduring nature of the name can also be attributed to its melodic sound and the positive connotations associated with bees, which symbolize industriousness and community. In some contexts, the diminutive form 'Debbie' has emerged, further embedding the name in various cultural narratives.

Overall, Debra's historical and cultural significance is rooted in its biblical origins and the virtues associated with its early bearers.

Famous people named Debra

In this section, you will find notable people named Debra. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Debra who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Debra who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Debra Messing is an actress best known for Will & Grace, Smash, and The Wedding Date.

Debra Winger is an actress best known for Terms of Endearment, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Shadowlands.

Debra Morgan is a fictional character from the TV series Dexter, known for her role as a detective and sister to the main character.

Fictional characters named Debra

The following list of fictional characters named Debra is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Debra Morgan is a fictional character from the TV series Dexter. She is a detective with the Miami Metro Police Department and the sister of the main character, Dexter Morgan.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Debra, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

DavidDianaDanielDerekDaphneDustin

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Debra. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

DebbieDaphneDeniseDarlaDianaDarleneDelilah

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Debra was first seen in the United States in 1914.

Debra has ranked as high as #11 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in California, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Debra has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Debra is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Debra was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Debra.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 31 0 31
2024 43 0 43
2023 30 0 30
2022 39 0 39
2021 44 0 44
2020 44 0 44
2019 54 0 54
2018 50 0 50
2017 45 0 45
2016 53 0 53
2015 38 0 38
2014 54 0 54
2013 48 0 48
2012 68 0 68
2011 64 0 64
2010 73 0 73
2009 81 0 81
2008 88 0 88
2007 120 0 120
2006 118 0 118
2005 104 0 104
2004 132 0 132
2003 123 0 123
2002 140 0 140
2001 143 0 143
2000 164 0 164
1999 187 0 187
1998 205 0 205
1997 213 0 213
1996 226 0 226
1995 257 0 257
1994 308 0 308
1993 356 0 356
1992 353 0 353
1991 478 0 478
1990 542 0 542
1989 555 0 555
1988 618 0 618
1987 641 0 641
1986 775 0 775
1985 918 0 918
1984 1,025 5 1,020
1983 1,093 9 1,084
1982 1,322 9 1,313
1981 1,349 8 1,341
1980 1,558 0 1,558
1979 1,693 5 1,688
1978 1,870 0 1,870
1977 1,968 7 1,961
1976 2,075 6 2,069
1975 2,453 9 2,444
1974 3,135 6 3,129
1973 3,669 17 3,652
1972 4,682 16 4,666
1971 5,948 20 5,928
1970 7,220 22 7,198
1969 7,986 35 7,951
1968 9,127 32 9,095
1967 10,237 20 10,217
1966 11,293 32 11,261
1965 13,134 36 13,098
1964 15,377 48 15,329
1963 17,370 35 17,335
1962 20,638 45 20,593
1961 22,212 52 22,160
1960 26,807 75 26,732
1959 31,455 67 31,388
1958 35,602 81 35,521
1957 42,800 72 42,728
1956 48,414 90 48,324
1955 50,638 75 50,563
1954 45,983 87 45,896
1953 36,908 52 36,856
1952 26,867 35 26,832
1951 17,088 24 17,064
1950 6,184 8 6,176
1949 2,398 6 2,392
1948 1,125 0 1,125
1947 679 0 679
1946 417 0 417
1945 205 0 205
1944 219 0 219
1943 102 0 102
1942 107 0 107
1941 98 0 98
1940 85 0 85
1939 74 0 74
1938 60 0 60
1937 79 0 79
1936 56 0 56
1935 52 0 52
1934 51 0 51
1933 37 0 37
1932 26 0 26
1931 16 0 16
1930 17 0 17
1929 17 0 17
1928 12 0 12
1927 12 0 12
1926 12 0 12
1925 11 0 11
1924 8 0 8
1923 10 0 10
1922 5 0 5
1920 7 0 7
1919 6 0 6
1918 9 0 9
1917 7 0 7
1916 5 0 5
1915 9 0 9
1914 5 0 5

Top States for Debra (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 10
67%
IN 5
33%