Rebecca
Peaked at #10 nationally in 1973, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Rebecca has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Rebecca is a Hebrew name, from a root meaning "to bind" or "to tie," sometimes glossed as "captivating." In Genesis, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau, one of the Bible's matriarchs.
Notable people & culture
Rebecca peaked at #10 in 1973, part of a wave of Old Testament names that surged in the 1960s and 70s; Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel "Rebecca" and its Hitchcock film adaptation kept the name culturally prominent through the mid-century.
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Rebecca — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#10
in 1973
Current rank
#342
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Rebecca reached its peak popularity for girls in 1973, ranking #10 nationally with 14,869 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #181 (2014) to #342 (2024) — a 47% drop.
As of 2024, Rebecca ranks #342 nationally for girls, with 910 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #342 | 910 |
| 2023 | #315 | 984 |
| 2022 | #296 | 1,074 |
| 2021 | #304 | 1,049 |
| 2020 | #249 | 1,211 |
| 2019 | #264 | 1,260 |
| 2018 | #211 | 1,459 |
| 2017 | #214 | 1,433 |
Rebecca — Boys (United States)
RisingPeak rank
#983
in 1975
Last ranked
#10532
in 2017
Years tracked
90
1909–2017
Trend
Rising
Tracked since 1909, Rebecca reached its peak popularity for boys in 1975, ranking #983 nationally with 70 babies given the name that year.
Rebecca hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 2017, when it stood at #10532.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | #10,532 | 7 |
| 2009 | #14,034 | 5 |
| 2008 | #9,659 | 8 |
| 2007 | #13,946 | 5 |
| 2006 | #11,730 | 6 |
| 2005 | #8,157 | 9 |
| 2004 | #4,103 | 22 |
| 2003 | #10,574 | 6 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Rebecca most popular?
Rebecca was most popular in 1973, when it ranked #10 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Rebecca becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently rising, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Rebecca?
At least 757,198 babies have been recorded with the name Rebecca in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Rebecca? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.