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    The first name Debra

    A girl’s name from Hebrew.

    Pronounced /ˈdɛbɹə/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    A spelling variant of Deborah first used in the 20th century.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 4 girls were named Debra, making it the 4,867th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 13 births (#1,364).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    91
    babies named Debra, 1996–2025
    #4,867
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Debra with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Debra at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 31 girls born in the United States were named Debra, the 4,478th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1955, when 50,563 were.

    030,00060,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    551,841
    babies named Debra since 1880
    #4,478
    rank in 2025
    1955
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Debra

    27 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Debra Winger
      American actress, born 1955
    • Debra Messing
      American actress (born 1968)
    • Debra Jo Rupp
      American actress, born 1951
    • Debra Paget
      American actress and entertainer (born 1933)
    • Debra Monk
      American actress, born 1949
    • Debra Wilson
      American actress, born 1962
    • Debra Fischer
      American astronomer and academic, born 1951
    • Debra Hill
      American film producer (1950-2005)
    • Debra Mooney
      American actress, born 1947
    • Debra Granik
      American film director, screenwriter and cinematographer, born 1963
    • Debra Marshall
      American professional wrestling valet and actress, born 1960
    • Debra Sapenter
      American sprinter, born 1952

    More Hebrew girls’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Debra mean?
    A spelling variant of Deborah first used in the 20th century.
    What is the origin of the name Debra?
    A spelling variant of Deborah first used in the 20th century.
    How popular is the name Debra?
    In 2025, 4 girls born in England and Wales were named Debra, ranking 4,867th. Its peak was 1996, with 13 births.
    Is Debra a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 551,841 US babies named Debra since 1880 were girls.
    When was Debra most popular?
    1955 in the United States, when 50,563 babies were named Debra, its highest rank at 4th.
    How do you pronounce Debra?
    Debra is /ˈdɛbɹə/, 2 syllables.