Origin, Meaning and History of Debra
Debra is a fun and fresh twist on the traditional feminine nameDeborah. Its roots can be traced back to the original Hebrew name Devorah which means ‘bee.’ It is a powerful feminine name in the Bible, borne by two women. The first Deborah is a nurse who accompaniedRebeccaas a nurse. The second Deborah is a dynamic prophetess who led the Israelites towards freedom and victory with the help of an army under the command of Barak. She was a prophetess mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Deborah, which has long been a prevalent Jewish name, gained usage among English Christians following the Protestant Reformation. It became particularly popular among the Puritans.
Debra is a name with an abundance of variations. To name a few, they areDebrah, Devera, Debbera, Debera, Debrha, Debroah, Dobra, Debbrah, Debrea, and Debria. Although Debra is already short and sweet, if you are looking for cuter nicknames, some potential diminutives are诺文,Debby,Deb,Debi, and诺文e.
Debra is a well-known name for fictional characters on television shows and comics. The character of Debra Louise Barone was played by Patricia Heaton in the American sitcomEverybody Loves Raymond. She is Ray Barone’s wife. Debra Dean is another fictional character who appeared on the British soap operaEastEnders. The role of Debra Dean was portrayed by the English actress Ruth Katrin Gimmel. Another famous character with the name is Debra Morgan, who plays the sister of the antihero protagonist Dexter in the book and television seriesDexter. The role was played by American actress Jennifer Carpenter.
In comics, the name was seen in the Marvel comicsThe Amazing Spider-Man #196; Debra Whitman was a short-time love interest of the protagonist Peter Parker.
How To Pronounce Debra?
Famous People With The Name Debra
-
- Debra ByrdAmerican vocalist, serving as head vocal coach for American Idol and Canadian Idol
- Debra DunningAmerican actress, model, television show host, and comedian, known for her role in Home Improvement as Heidi
- Debra Lee FeuerAmerican former actress, known for her roles in films like Moment By Moment, The Hollywood Knights, and more
- Debra GranikAmerican filmmaker, known for her work in Winter’s Bone which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award
- Debra Sue MaffettAmerican beauty pageant titleholder, given the title Miss America in 1983
- Debra Gale MarshallAmerican retired professional wrestler, won the WWF Women’s Championship in 1999 in an evening gown match
- Debra Lynn MessingAmerican actress, famous for her role in Will and Grace which earned her nominations for seven Golden Globes Awards and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations
- Debra MonkAmerica writer, singer, and actress, won a Tony Award in 1993 and an Emmy Award for her guest appearances in NYPD Blue
- Debra MooneyAmerican actress, known for her roles in shows like The Originals, Grey’s Anatomy, and Scandal
- Debra Jo RuppAmerican actress, famous for her role as Kitty Forman on the American sitcom The 70’s Show
Debra On The Popularity Chart
Once a popular name, Debra has been decreasing in usage and declining in rank. Check the graphs below for detailed information.
Popularity Over Time
The name has been declining in popularity over the years. In 1980, it had around 1558 babies per million sharing the name, but has dwindled to 43 babies per million in 2021.
来源:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
In 1980, it was one of the Top 200 names in the U.S. However, its rank fell to 3,929th in 2015.
来源:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Debra
If you like how the name Debra sounds, below are a few more names that share a similar sound.
Popular Sibling Names For Debra
Other Popular Names Beginning With D
Names With Similar Meaning As Debra
If the meaning of the name Debra intrigues you, take a look at a few other options below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
debra
In Sign Language
debra
In Braille Alphabet
debra
In Morse Code
debra
Name Numerology For Debra
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Debra?
The name Debra means ‘bee.’
2. What is the origin of the name Debra?
Debra has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Debra?
Debra is pronounced as deb-rah.
4. When did the name Debra become popular?
Over the century, according to the data provided by the SSA, the name Debra peaked in its popularity in 1956 when it reached rank 2. This was followed by 1995, when it stood at rank 4 (1).
5. How popular or rare is the name Debra?
The name Debra is considered a rare name at the present day. Data from SSA showed that the name was last seen in the US in 1998 when it stood at rank 986, and it had 205 baby girls sharing the name (1).
6. What is the difference between Deborah and Debra?
Debra is the shortened and informal spelling of the nameDeborah. Both names are pronounced similarly, but the spelling of Deborah is more common. The only difference is the spelling; otherwise, Debra and Deborah share the same meaning.
7. What is the name Debra in French?
黛布拉是一个立足于希伯来语和英文名字means ‘bee.’ It also carries the same meaning in the French language. However, it is spelled as Déborah or Débora.
8. Who is Debra in the Bible?
Debra has not made any appearance in the Bible. However, the name from which it is derived, Deborah, is one major female character in the Bible. She was the only female judge and prophet in the land of Israel (2).
9. Is Debra short for other names or a standalone name?
Debra is a shortened version of the traditional feminine name, Deborah. Over the years, Debra has been popularly in use as a standalone name.
References:
- Popularity of the Name Debra.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ - Deborah: Bible.
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/deborah-bible
