Rebecca Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Rebecca Mean?

Rebecca is a feminine Hebrew name meaning “to tie firmly, to bind” and is derived from the Hebrew name Rivkah. The name Rivkah is derived from the Hebrew verb “ribbqah,” which means “to join” or “snare.”

What Is the Origin of the Name Rebecca?

The name Rebecca was originally seen in the Old Testament of the Bible and represented boldness and beauty. The wife of Isaac and mother to Jacob and Esau, Rebecca was presented to her husband by his father, Abraham. She was considered kind and generous but also tenacious and courageous.

How Popular Is the Name Rebecca?

The name Rebecca was used during the colonization of the Puritans in New England in the 17th century ⁽¹⁾. While the name has fluctuated in popularity over the years, it remains in the top 200 most popular names for baby girls.

While you can use the name Rebecca as a first or middle name, most parents opt for the former, with the name being used as a first name about 99% of the time.

In the United States, Rebecca has been steadily popular since its modern revival in the 1960s. In 2020, Rebecca ranked as the 250th most popular female baby name ⁽²⁾. About 1 out of every 1,469 baby girls born in 2020 were named Rebecca.

How Do I Pronounce Rebecca?

The three-syllable name Rebecca is pronounced “ruh-beh-KUH.” The first syllable is pronounced like the “ruh” in rug, the second syllable is like the “beh” in beg, and the last syllable is pronounced like the “kuh” in cup.

Is Rebecca a Boy or Girl Name?

The name Rebecca is primarily a girl name, as it was originally popularized by important women from the Bible.

Variations of Rebecca

While most people still use the popular spelling of the English version, there are several variations. Most notable variations come from non-English speaking countries.

• Rabqa (Arabic)
• Rafqa (Aramaic)
• Rebeca (Portugues, Spanish)
• Rèbecca (French)
• Rebeccah (English)
• Rebeccah (English)
• Rebecka (Swedish)
• Rebeka (Czech, Hungarian)
• Rebekka (Dutch, German)
• Rebieka (Belarusian)
• Refika (Turkish)
• Repega (Armenian)
• Reveica (Romanian)
• Ribkha (Indonesian)
• Rhebekka (Latin)
• Rika (Yiddish)
• Rivka (Hebrew)
• Rivqah (Biblical Hebrew)
• Rybika (Arabic)

Nicknames for Rebecca

With a classic girl name like Rebecca, there are a few common nicknames that include:

• Reba
• Rebi
• Becca
• Becka
• Beckah
• Becki
• Beckie
• Becks
• Becky
• Bex

Similar Names to Rebecca

Similar names to Rebecca that you can’t go wrong with:

• Eliana
• Hannah
• Isabella
• Kayla
• Leah
• Mariah
• Naomi
• Rachel
• Rayleigh
• Reagan
• Regina
• Roberta
• Robin
• Romina
• Rory
• Rosalie
• Rubeena
• Ruby
• Sadie
• Sarah

Middle Names for Rebecca

Although Rebecca can be shortened to Becca or Becky, not all parents like those options. The next best thing is to find an equally catchy middle name to use instead. Here are a few:

• Amelia
• Camille
• Daphne
• Eleanor
• Elise
• Georgiana
• Helene
• Imogen
• Jane
• Juliet
• Laurel
• Lucille
• Margot
• Marie
• May
• Pearl
• Penelope
• Sophie
• Sylvie
• Violet

Sibling Names for Rebecca

Rebecca is a simple, classic name that can complement many sibling names.

For a brother:

• Benjamin
• Caden
• Declan
• Derek
• Eric
• Jonathan
• Michael
• Patrick
• Samuel
• Zachary

For a sister:

• Abigail
• Clarissa
• Erica
• Jenica
• Julia
• Lauren
• Rachel
• Ruth
• Victoria

Famous People Named Rebecca

Many famous people have been named Rebecca. You might recognize the following:

• Rebecca Black: American pop singer and songwriter.
• Rebecca Bisland: Republic of Ireland international footballer known for playing in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
• Rebecca Egan: British actress known for playing the role of Marilyn Tanner in the series Second Sight.
• Rebecca Gargano: Italian fencer who won a gold medal at the 2019 Summer Universiade and a silver medal at the 2015 European Games.
• Rebecca Hall: English actress and film director who has been in films such as Iron Man, The Prestige, and many more.
• Rebecca Jarvis: American journalist and investment banker best known for being the chief business, economics, and technology correspondent for ABC News.
• Rebecca Romijn: American actress and former model known for her portrayal as Mystique in the X-Men film series.
• Rebecca West: British author, journalist, and literary critic.

Rebecca in Popular Culture

Rebecca has been used quite often in popular culture, appearing in at least 54 films. A few examples include:

• Rebecca Bunch: A character from the musically-driven show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
• Rebecca Cunningham: A cartoon character featured in the Disney animated television show TaleSpin.
• Rebecca Dopplemeyer: A character in the graphic novel Ghost World, written by Daniel Clowes and portrayed in the subsequent film adaptation by Scarlett Johanson.
• Rebecca Welton: A character portrayed by Hannah Waddingham in the television show Ted Lasso.
• Rebecca de Winter: The title character of Daphne De Maurier’s novel, Rebecca.

Rebecca FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about the name Rebecca.