Deborah

femaleBiblical Hebrew

From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces.

Origin: Biblical Hebrew

Official popularity data is available for 7 regions, from 1952 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #3 in New Zealand in 1966. See regions.

Deborah: Recorded every year since 1952, it reached #3 in 1957, and it stood at #429 in 2025.

7registrars recorded it
190times a registrar ranked it
74years from first to last
#3highest recorded position
37groupings it qualifies for
36names it appears alongside

What stands out in Deborah's record

Ranked inside the top 10 by 2 registrars. Names by top-10 reach
Ranked every year since 1952, without a single year missing. Names by continuity of record
Held a top-100 place for 40 years running. Names by top-100 run
New South Wales, Australia registered 1,036 births with the name in 1958, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count

DEB-uh-ruh/ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/

Compare Deborah Run Name Checker on Deborah

Data Confidence

Evidence: ModerateCompleteness: SubstantialEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (7) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Meaning: From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces.
Pronunciation: DEB-uh-ruh
Syllables: 3
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: female
Language family: Biblical Hebrew

Popularity

Region

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#302
1997	#338
1998	#386
1999	#440
2000	#418
2001	#405
2002	#401
2003	#402
2004	#450
2005	#374
2006	#415
2007	#426
2008	#393
2009	#469
2010	#613
2011	#502
2012	#587
2013	#575
2014	#547
2015	#686
2016	#544
2017	#728
2018	#633
2019	#590
2020	#941
2021	#801
2022	#857
2023	#657
2024	#708
2025	#580

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Norway in 29 of the 73 years from 1953 to 2025.

In 2025: #429 among girls in Norway, #580 among girls in England and Wales, #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Official data from 7 national registrars across 7 regions, 1952–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Popularity journey

First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Deborah appears in 6 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Girls, with 59 ranked years and 4,852 births registered; the earliest is New South Wales, Australia · Girls, from 1952.

Deborah across 6 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Deborah's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Norway · Girls	#418 (1953)	#368 (1957)	#429 (2025)	29 of 73	148 (1953–2025)	7 (1973)
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#76 (1964)	#38 (1981)	#608 (2025)	59 of 62	4,852 (1964–2025)	248 (1981)
New Zealand · Girls	#43 (1954)	#3 (1966)	#94 (1985)	31 of 32	8,819 (1954–1985)	543 (1961)
England and Wales · Girls	#302 (1996)	#302 (1996)	#580 (2025)	30 of 30	2,265 (1996–2025)	118 (1996)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#51 (1952)	#3 (1957)	#86 (1980)	29 of 29	12,734 (1952–1980)	1,036 (1958)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#116 (1997)	#116 (1997)	#451 (2012)	11 of 16	68 (1997–2012)	19 (1997)

Deborah by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Deborah in Republic of Ireland · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960s	712	6 of 10	119
1970sbusiest	1,941	10 of 10	194
1980s	1,585	10 of 10	159
1990s	390	10 of 10	39
2000s	154	10 of 10	15
2010s	54	9 of 10	6
2020s	16	4 of 10	4

Across Republic of Ireland · Girls, the 1970s were its busiest decade, averaging 194 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 1974 and 1975, when recorded births fell by 52, from 222 to 170.

See the names Republic of Irelandhas recorded the most births with →

Deborah appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 7 registrars between 1952 and 2025, ranked in 74 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #3, first reached in 1957.

It held a top-100 place in 40 years, 40 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 1,036 births, registered in New South Wales, Australia in 1958.

2 registrars ranked it inside their own top 10.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1953, and 72 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Deborah was ranked #3 in New South Wales, Australia · Girls in 1957. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Debbie · #31, 67y
Debora · #587, 23y
Deborrah · #195, 10y
Debra · #6, 58y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 7 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Adam · #3, 73y
Adrian · #3, 73y
Leo · #3, 69y
Samuel · #3, 73y

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1950 and 1959.

Adam · #3, 73y
Adrian · #3, 73y
Benjamin · #3, 65y
Caroline · #3, 69y

Comparisons involving Deborah

Existing comparison pages where Deborah and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Deborah in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Deborah vs Olive
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #72 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #247.
Deborah · Olive · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Deborah within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Julie vs Deborah
Across 31 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Julie and Deborah averaged 7.1 places apart, ending at #97 and #94.
Julie · Deborah · 31 shared years, 1954–1985 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1985 New Zealand ranking
Susan vs Deborah
Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Susan and Deborah averaged 9.3 places apart, ending at #86 and #97.
Susan · Deborah · 29 shared years, 1954–1984 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1984 New Zealand ranking
Deborah vs Helen
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Helen averaged 9.5 places apart, ending at #86 and #73.
Deborah · Helen · 29 shared years, 1952–1980 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1980 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Deborah and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Lisa vs Deborah
In 1967, Lisa moved ahead of Deborah in New Zealand · Girls — #7 and #3 the year before became #2 and #4.
Lisa · Deborah · 23 shared years, 1962–1985 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1967 New Zealand ranking
Margaret vs Deborah
In 1957, Deborah moved ahead of Margaret in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #5 and #7 the year before became #6 and #3.
Margaret · Deborah · 23 shared years, 1952–1974 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1957 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Sandra vs Deborah
In 1966, Deborah moved ahead of Sandra in New Zealand · Girls — #3 and #7 the year before became #6 and #3.
Sandra · Deborah · 24 shared years, 1954–1980 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1966 New Zealand ranking

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs involving Deborah measured in New South Wales, Australia's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Deborah at its highest position.

Jennifer vs Deborah
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #1 in 1956, Deborah #3 in 1957.
Jennifer · Deborah · 29 shared years, 1952–1980 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1957 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Deborah vs Donna
In 1963, Donna moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #7 the year before became #10 and #6.
Deborah · Donna · 28 shared years, 1953–1980 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1963 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Deborah vs Leanne
In 1963, Leanne moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #12 the year before became #10 and #7.
Deborah · Leanne · 24 shared years, 1957–1980 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1963 New South Wales, Australia ranking

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Deborah and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Deborah without appearing here.

Deborah moved ahead of

Brittany
In 2000 they stood at #418 and #275 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2001 that had become #405 and #871.
Kate
In 2022 they stood at #857 and #775 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2023 that had become #657 and #1108.
Caitlin
In 2024 they stood at #708 and #610 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2025 that had become #580 and #1028.
Gemma
In 2012 they stood at #587 and #580 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2013 that had become #575 and #982.

Moved ahead of Deborah

Fiadh
In 2019 they stood at #590 and #1063 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #941 and #460.
Wendy Compare
In 2021 they stood at #700 and #834 in Republic of Ireland · Girls; by 2022 that had become #905 and #502.
Cassandra
In 2019 they stood at #590 and #881 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #941 and #589.
Harper
In 2011 they stood at #502 and #858 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2012 that had become #587 and #284.

Moved the opposite way to Deborah

Clodagh
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 while Clodagh went from #149 to #47.
Hannah
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 while Hannah went from #91 to #21.
Sadie
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 while Sadie went from #372 to #5.
Tara
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 while Tara went from #327 to #166.

Moved the same way as Deborah

Audrey
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 and Audrey from #85 to #885.
Eileen
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 and Eileen from #17 to #443.
Elaine
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 and Elaine from #58 to #608.
Ida
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Deborah went from #76 to #608 and Ida from #372 to #885.

Meaning & Origin

From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Biblical Hebrew

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Deborah is officially recorded

7 official registrars have recorded Deborah, between 1952 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
New South Wales, Australia	1952–1980	29	#3 in 1957
Norway	1953–2025	29	#368 in 1957
New Zealand	1954–1985	31	#3 in 1966
Republic of Ireland	1964–2025	59	#38 in 1981
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#302 in 1996
Northern Ireland	1997–2012	11	#116 in 1997
Scotland	2024	1	#790 in 2024

Its high point came 67 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (1957) than in Scotland (2024).

Variants

No spelling variants or nicknames recorded yet.

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

DEB-uh-ruh/ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/

Syllables: 3
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Deborah Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Deborah in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNorwayNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

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Deborah

Deborah at a glance

What stands out in Deborah's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Deborah across 6 official records

Deborah by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Deborah appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Deborah

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Deborah

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Deborah and the names beside it

Deborah moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Deborah

Moved the opposite way to Deborah

Moved the same way as Deborah

Meaning & Origin

Where Deborah is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Deborah Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Deborah at a glance

What stands out in Deborah's record

Deborah across 6 official records

Deborah by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Deborah appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Deborah

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Deborah

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Deborah and the names beside it

Deborah moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Deborah

Moved the opposite way to Deborah

Moved the same way as Deborah