Girl
Hebrew
3 syllables
Deborah
DEB-uh-ruh
/ˈdɛb.ər.ə/
"Bee" — an ancient Hebrew name symbolizing industry, community, and the sting of leadership
Deborah is the anglicized form of the Hebrew Devorah meaning bee. In the Old Testament, Deborah was a prophetess and one of the Judges of Israel — the only female judge mentioned — who led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanites. The name was popular among Puritans and remained in heavy use through the 1950s and 60s in the United States, when it ranked in the top 10.
Quick Facts
Letters7
SyllablesDeb · o · rah
GenderGirl
OriginHebrew
Root WordDevorah
MeaningBee
PopularityUncommon
Peak Year1954
Trend
→ Stable
Name DaySeptember 21
Nicknames
DebbieDebDebbyDebs
About the Name Deborah
Deborah means bee in Hebrew. The bee was seen as a symbol of industry, community, and the rewards of hard work.
Deborah was a prophetess and the only female Judge of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament. She led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanites under general Barak.
Deborah peaked in the 1950s and is considered a classic midcentury name. It carries a retro quality but is not considered unusable.
Debbie and Deb are the most common nicknames. Debby was popular in the 1950s-60s. Debs is used informally in the UK.
Deborah Ann, Deborah Lynn, and Deborah Marie are classic combinations from the name's peak era.
Deborah has declined significantly from its 1950s peak. It remains in use but is far less common, making it distinctive for younger bearers.
Personality of Deborah
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Deborah
Creativity
68%
Elegance
62%
Independence
82%
Intelligence
80%
Strength
88%
Warmth
86%
Famous People Named Deborah
D
Deborah (biblical)
Prophetess and Judge of Israel, the only female judge in the Bible, who led her people to military victory
D
Debbie Harry
American singer and actress, lead vocalist of Blondie, punk and new wave icon
D
Deborah Kerr
Scottish-British actress, six-time Academy Award nominee, known for From Here to Eternity
Middle Names for Deborah
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Deborah
Deborah Ann
Deborah Lynn
Deborah Marie
Deborah Sue
Deborah Lee
Deborah Jane
Deborah Kay
Deborah Ellen
Deborah Renee
Deborah Rose
Names Similar to Deborah
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Deborah
1200 BC
Deborah serves as the only female Judge of Israel, leading her people to military victory in the Bible
1620s
Puritan settlers bring Deborah to New England as a biblical name
1954
Deborah ranks in the US top 10, its peak year of popularity
1970s
Debbie Harry fronts Blondie, making the name synonymous with punk-era cool
Numerology & Symbolism of Deborah
8
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
3
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Virgo
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Amber
💎
Lucky Stone
Amber
🌸
Lucky Flower
Honeysuckle
Deborah Around the World
How Deborah is written in different languages and scripts
ديبورا
Arabic
デボラ
Japanese
Дебора
Russian
데보라
Korean
德博拉
Chinese
Δεβώρα
Greek
डेबोरा
Hindi
דְּבוֹרָה
Hebrew
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