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

Debra is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 1,147 recorded births.

When was Debra most popular?

Debra reached its peak popularity in 1955 with 50,560 births that year. It is currently ranked #3581 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Debra?

Debra is currently ranked #3581 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 550,662 babies since 1914.

Debra

A Hebrew name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysHebrewDeclining

#3581▲ 1003in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Hebrew popular in the 1950s and the 1960s.

Debra is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, an anglicized variant of Deborah, from the Hebrew devorah, meaning "bee." In the Book of Judges, Deborah was a judge and prophetess of Israel — one of the most powerful women in the entire Old Testament.

Debra exploded in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, peaking in the top 20. The spelling with an "a" was particularly favored in mid-century America. Actress Debra Winger earned an Oscar nomination for her raw, intense performances, giving the name a quietly fierce Hollywood identity.

Compare Debra with another name

Popularity Over Time

Debra was #1520 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3581, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Debra
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	199	#3804	▼
2010s	547	#3103	▼
2000s	1,213	#1704	▼
1990s	3,125	#755	▼
1980s	9,824	#284	▼
1970s	34,604	#106	▼
1960s	153,771	#26	▼
1950s	341,347	#12	▲
1940s	5,429	#497	▲
1930s	468	#1206	▲
1920s	94	#3255	▲
1910s	41	#3794	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(110 years, 1914–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Debra
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	43	#3581	+13 (43.3%)
2023	30	#4584	-9 (-23.1%)
2022	39	#3839	-4 (-9.3%)
2021	43	#3562	-1 (-2.3%)
2020	44	#3455	-10 (-18.5%)
2019	54	#3011	+4 (8.0%)
2018	50	#3218	+5 (11.1%)
2017	45	#3448	-8 (-15.1%)
2016	53	#3113	+15 (39.5%)
2015	38	#3932	-16 (-29.6%)
2014	54	#3087	+6 (12.5%)
2013	48	#3330	-20 (-29.4%)
2012	68	#2639	+4 (6.3%)
2011	64	#2735	-9 (-12.3%)
2010	73	#2518	-8 (-9.9%)
2009	81	#2381	-7 (-8.0%)
2008	88	#2234	-32 (-26.7%)
2007	120	#1787	+2 (1.7%)
2006	118	#1763	+14 (13.5%)
2005	104	#1860	-28 (-21.2%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Debra as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Debra has also been given to 1,147 boys in the U.S. since 1949.

Unranked

Current rank

1,147

Total births

1956

Peak year

Compare Debra as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Debra be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Debra is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #3581. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1914–2024) · Methodology