Is Debby a boy's or girl's name?

Debby is primarily a girl's name.

When was Debby most popular?

Debby reached its peak popularity in 1959 with 890 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Debby?

Debby is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 9,697 babies in the U.S. since 1923. Its peak was in 1959.

Debby

An uncommon pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the female given name Deborah.

Debby is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a diminutive of Deborah, from the Hebrew Devorah, meaning 'bee.' Deborah was a prophetess and judge in the Book of Judges — one of the Bible's most powerful female figures.

Debby was popular alongside Debbie and Debi in the 1950s and 60s when shortened forms were fashionable. Singer Debby Boone's 1977 hit 'You Light Up My Life' kept this spelling in the spotlight. It's cheerful and approachable — a name that smiles when you say it.

Compare Debby with another name

Popularity Over Time

Debby has 88+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1923.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Debby
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	45	#13739	▼
2000s	73	#13580	▼
1990s	127	#7389	▼
1980s	216	#4236	▼
1970s	564	#1884	▼
1960s	3,354	#634	▼
1950s	4,460	#458	▲
1940s	750	#1487	▲
1930s	96	#3132	▲
1920s	12	#4435	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(88 years, 1923–2016)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Debby
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2016	8	#12058	+3 (60.0%)
2015	5	#17120	-2 (-28.6%)
2014	7	#13429	+2 (40.0%)
2013	5	#17218	-8 (-61.5%)
2012	13	#8758	+6 (85.7%)
2010	7	#13849	+1 (16.7%)
2009	6	#15732	0
2008	6	#15900	+1 (20.0%)
2007	5	#18335	-3 (-37.5%)
2006	8	#12703	+3 (60.0%)
2005	5	#17160	-5 (-50.0%)
2004	10	#10101	+3 (42.9%)
2003	7	#12744	-2 (-22.2%)
2002	9	#10434	+3 (50.0%)
2001	6	#13973	-5 (-45.5%)
2000	11	#8713	+1 (10.0%)
1999	10	#8954	+2 (25.0%)
1998	8	#10350	-2 (-20.0%)
1997	10	#8514	-5 (-33.3%)
1996	15	#6141	+6 (66.7%)