Debra
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Debra is a Hebrew name meaning “bee”. It is a common name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.95% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin, traditionally interpreted as 'bee'. It serves as a variant of the name Deborah, which appears in the Book of Judges. In the Hebrew Bible, Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge of the ancient Israelites. The etymology is linked to the noun dvorah, reflecting the industrious nature of the insect within the cultural context of ancient agrarian societies.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Debra
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Debra is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.95% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Debra
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Debra is listed under Common Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Common | 1 in every 27K births |
| United Kingdom | Common | 1 in every 37K births |
| Canada | Common | 1 in every 86K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 60K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Debra ranked #7,239 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #5,620 in 2024 — a drop of 1,619 places. Debra is uncommon in official lists but appears occasionally.
Historically, its best recorded position was #5, achieved in 1956, 1957 and 1958. Its lowest recorded position was #10,047 in 2021. Over the last 8 years (2017–2025) the name rose 8 places (from #8,958 to #7,239).
Name StyleMethodology
Debra is classified as Vintage Girl Names because its historical peak was 1955, followed by a decline to <0.01% of that peak and a recent recovery to 2.95x the preceding level.Explain More
Although the name also meets the Classic criteria, the Vintage pattern is more strongly supported: a decline to <0.01% of the historical peak followed by a 2.95x recent recovery. The competing Classic pattern is supported by activity across 82% of available years and continued recent use at 14 births per year, giving the selected Style an evidence margin of 23 percentage points.
Characteristics of the Name Debra
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 5 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- D — Girl Names Starting with D
- Ends with
- a — Girl Names Ending in “a”
Name AestheticMethodology
Debra employs two syllables with initial stress, leading to a grounded final vowel. The name is strongly linked to the mid-century prominence of Debra Winger, anchoring it in a Vintage Revival aesthetic. Its phonetic composition is direct and utilitarian.
Middle Names For Debra
Middle names used with DebraMethodology
Debra is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Debra Ann · Debra Lynn · Debra Jean · Debra Kay · Debra SueView all 2,472 girl middle names.
- Total 3,465 middle names used with Debra
- 183 boy middle names used with Debra
- 705 unisex middle names used with Debra
Middle name suggestions for DebraMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Debra is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Debra Moore · Debra Mills · Debra Marsh · Debra Marks · Debra Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Debra
Sound Like Debra Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Deborah · Debora · Deborrah · View all 17 names
Spelled Like Debra Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Debora · Debrah · Debbra · View all 6 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Dorothy · Donna · Deborah · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Debra Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Patricia · Linda · Barbara · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Mary · Linda · Sarah · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Debra”
Dictionary Meaning of "Debra"Methodology
A female given name from Hebrew popular in the 1950s and the 1960s
Examples
- "She's Debra Jean," the children shouted in chorus. "We decided last night with Daddy." - - - So her name is Debbie, I thought to myself. With a pretty name and a family to love her this baby has to make it.
More Info
How to Spell Debra in ASL
- D
- e
- b
- r
- a
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