Entry № 1581 · Hebrew origin

Deborah Deborah — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ DEH-bor-ah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Hebrew
Meaning
"Bee (biblical judge Deborah; Deborah Sampson)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 950
First recorded
Ancient (Hebrew)

A name that means "bee (biblical judge deborah; deborah sampson)".

Deborah is from the Hebrew Devorah ("bee"). The biblical Deborah — fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel, prophet, and the only female judge mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Judges 4-5). Her victory hymn after the defeat of the Canaanite general Sisera (the Song of Deborah, Judges 5) is considered one of the oldest passages in the Hebrew Bible — possibly dating to the 12th century BCE. Deborah Sampson (1760-1827) — disguised herself as a man ("Robert Shurtleff") to fight in the Continental Army during the American Revolution; the first woman to receive a US military pension. Deborah Kerr (1921-2007) — six-time Oscar-nominated Scottish actress.

Featured throughout the Book of Judges and Alfred J. Young's Masquerade (2004) — biography of Deborah Sampson.

Bee. Only female judge in the Hebrew Bible; her victory song is among the Bible's oldest passages.

The name in its native script.

דְּבוֹרָה
Transliteration
Devorah
Pronunciation
/ ˈdɛb.ə.rə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Deborah stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 950 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 15 in 1955
Babies named Deborah · last year
195 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · #15 NOW · #950

Deborahs before her.

Real people
Deborah Sampson
American Revolutionary soldier.
1760 – 1827
Deborah Kerr
Scottish actress.
1921 – 2007
In fiction
Deborah
Book of Judges.

Names connected to Deborah.

The number behind Deborah.

5

The Free Spirit

Deborah reduces to five — the number of judge of Israel.

Why families chose this name.

"Judge Deborah's bee. Seven letters. Deborah."
Sarah · Mother of one · Jerusalem