Where does the name Debra come from?

Debra is a girl name of Hebrew origin.

Is Debra a boy or a girl name?

Debra is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Debra are girls and 0% are boys.

How popular is the name Debra in 2023?

Debra ranks #4587 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1955 with 50,638 babies.

How do you pronounce Debra?

Debra is pronounced DEB-ra (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Debra?

Debra is also written as Deborah, Debora, Debbie.

A name from Hebrew · Girl

Debra

A 20th-century spelling variant of Deborah, from Hebrew דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah) meaning 'bee'. The biblical Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel; the Debra spelling surged in 1950s America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 109-year arc in numbers.

550,621 U.S. births recorded from 1914–2023.

Popularity · 1914–2023

30 births in 2023

1914 1968 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

DA 20th-century spelling variant of Deborah, from Hebrew דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah) meaning 'bee'. The biblical Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel; the Debra spelling surged in 1950s America.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Debra".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Deborah Most common Debora Debbie

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Debra.

D
Debra Messing (actress)
D
Debra Winger (actress)

Quick answers

People often ask about Debra.

What does the name Debra mean?: Debra means a 20th-century spelling variant of Deborah, from Hebrew דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah) meaning 'bee'. The biblical Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel; the Debra spelling surged in 1950s America.
Where does the name Debra come from?: Debra is a girl name of Hebrew origin.
Is Debra a boy or a girl name?: Debra is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Debra are girls and 0% are boys.
How popular is the name Debra in 2023?: Debra ranks #4587 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1955 with 50,638 babies.
How do you pronounce Debra?: Debra is pronounced DEB-ra (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Debra?: Debra is also written as Deborah, Debora, Debbie.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.