Name meaning & stats
Deborah
Deborah means “bee” (Hebrew origin). 739,391 US babies since 1940, peak 1954. Notable Deborahs are 1.4× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“bee”
HebrewWell documented
From Hebrew Dvora.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1954
739,391 US babies were named Deborah between 1940 and 2025.
Where Deborahs end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1.3× | High · 67 people |
| Actor | 0.8× | High · 59 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 38 people |
| Professor | 1.4× | High · 37 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Deborahs show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Deborah has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 55% of the family
- Deborah 55%
- Debra 41%
- Debora 2%
- Debrah <1%
- Debbra <1%
- Debroah <1%
- Debera <1%
- Deborha <1%
- Deborrah <1%
- Debborah <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1954)