Debs
A boy's name with 15 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 4 letters and one syllable, Debs is short enough to fit easily on forms, monograms, and classroom labels — no abbreviation needed. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 1912, with 15 total recorded births.
Debs is not in the current top 1,000, which means your child is unlikely to share the name with a classmate — a plus for parents who value distinctiveness.
Debs is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Debs is a masculine name used in a small number of American records, most likely as a standalone birth name rather than purely a nickname. The name is primarily associated as a short form of Deborah (Hebrew, "bee") or the surname Debs — as in Eugene V. Debs, the influential American socialist leader of the early twentieth century.
As a given name for a boy, Debs occupies unusual territory — it's a name people will recognize from other contexts but rarely encounter on a man. Rare and memorable for that reason.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Debs's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Debs follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Debs's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Debs has 2+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1912.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 | #3964 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 9 | #1775 | — |
The Story of Debs
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1912, Debs is a name steeped in history. Boys named Debs are most likely born between 1912 and 1921.
How rare is Debs?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Debs is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1912, peaked in the 1910s with 9 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(2 years, 1912–1921)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 6 | #3964 |
| 1912 | 9 | #1775 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debs a boy's or girl's name?
When was Debs most popular?
How popular is the name Debs?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–1921