Name meaning & stats
Rebecca
Rebecca means “captivating” (Hebrew origin). 713,035 US babies since 1940, peak 1981. Notable Rebeccas are 1.2× over-represented as writers.
What it means
“captivating”
HebrewDebated
From Rivka; meanings given include “enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1981
713,035 US babies were named Rebecca between 1940 and 2025.
Where Rebeccas end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 0.9× | High · 98 people |
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 90 people |
| Singer | 1.1× | High · 53 people |
| Politician | 0.9× | High · 53 people |
Among notable women who are writers, Rebeccas show up 1.2× 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…
Rebecca has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 87% of the family
- Rebecca 87%
- Rebekah 9%
- Rebeca 2%
- Rebecka <1%
- Rebeka <1%
- Rebbecca <1%
- Rebekka <1%
- Rebekkah <1%
- Rebeccah <1%
- Rebbeca <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1981)