Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Rebecca
GirlHebrew· “possibly to bind”
- Meaning
- possibly to bind
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- ruh-BEH-kuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #350
- US babies 2025
- 872
- Best rank
- #10 (1973)
- Peak year
- 1981
Meaning and origin of Rebecca
Rebecca is a Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “possibly to bind”.
Rebecca comes from the Hebrew Rivqah, often connected with a root meaning "to tie" or "to bind," though the meaning is not certain. In the Book of Genesis, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and the mother of the twins Esau and Jacob. The name was adopted by Puritans in the seventeenth century and remained a staple in English. Walter Scott gave it a romantic heroine in Ivanhoe, and it has stayed steadily in use ever since. Rebecca feels classic and warm, and it offers nicknames such as Becca, Becky and Reba. The spelling Rebekah follows the Hebrew more closely.
Popularity over time
Rebecca has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #10 in 1973, and the most babies received it in 1981, when 16,737 were named Rebecca. In 2025, 872 babies were named Rebecca, and it ranked #350 nationally. That is 50% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #175 in 1920, #36 in 1950, #17 in 1980, #39 in 2000, #134 in 2010, and #350 in 2025. Of the 755,992 US girls named Rebecca since records began, 18% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 136,248 babies. Since 2010, 23,601 more have been named Rebecca.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Crystal, Andrea, April, Sara, and Kristin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rebecca ranked highest in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #192 | 60 |
| New Jersey | #251 | 33 |
| New York | #253 | 68 |
| New Hampshire | #265 | 5 |
| Utah | #273 | 17 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Rebecca is usually pronounced ruh-BEH-kuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with R and ends in “-ca”.
Middle names for Rebecca
A few middle names that flow with Rebecca: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rebecca
Similar names
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fran-CHEHS-kuh
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rih-BEHK-uh
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Lists that include Rebecca
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rebecca mean?
Rebecca is a Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “possibly to bind”.
What is the origin of the name Rebecca?
Rebecca has Hebrew roots. Rebecca comes from the Hebrew Rivqah, often connected with a root meaning "to tie" or "to bind," though the meaning is not certain.
Is Rebecca a popular name?
Yes. Rebecca ranked #350 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Rebecca a boy or girl name?
Rebecca is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Rebecca?
Rebecca is usually pronounced ruh-BEH-kuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings