girls' name · peaked 1981

Rebecca

Every Rebecca since 1880 — 758,106 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
3.757.511.251518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#350
among girls
Babies in 2025
872
named Rebecca
Peak year
1981
16,801 babies
All-time total
758,106
since 1880

The story of Rebecca

Rebecca is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #350 in 2025 with 872 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 758,106 American babies have been named Rebecca. Its peak came in 1981, when 16,801 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rebecca stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Rebecca year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 872 #350
2024 918 #340
2023 985 #315
2022 1,075 #296
2021 1,051 #304
2020 1,212 #249
2019 1,263 #263
2018 1,459 #211
2017 1,433 #214 7 #10,534
2016 1,580 #205
2015 1,728 #189
2014 1,782 #181
2013 1,806 #177
2012 2,019 #157
2011 2,119 #148
2010 2,299 #134
2009 2,473 #132 5 #14,038
2008 2,922 #118 8 #9,659
2007 3,215 #105 5 #13,946
2006 3,573 #96 6 #11,733
2005 4,018 #81 9 #8,157
2004 4,474 #70 22 #4,103
2003 4,873 #63 6 #10,573
2002 5,222 #54 8 #8,275
2001 5,893 #46 7 #9,017
2000 7,078 #39 8 #8,036
1995 9,911 #28 14 #4,454
1990 13,677 #21 40 #1,933
1985 12,705 #25 52 #1,347
1980 15,281 #17 48 #1,373
1975 13,925 #11 70 #983
1970 10,854 #29 29 #1,604
1965 10,211 #41 27 #1,508
1960 9,970 #38 24 #1,680
1955 12,398 #27 21 #1,716
1950 9,425 #36 17 #1,865
1945 3,331 #85 6 #3,249
1940 2,555 #96 13 #2,063
1935 1,208 #163
1930 1,114 #176 7 #3,523
1925 1,203 #183 8 #3,341
1920 1,269 #175 8 #3,432
1915 1,169 #159
1910 519 #154
1905 402 #148
1900 503 #126
1895 386 #122
1890 374 #107
1885 302 #99
1880 236 #92

Famous people named Rebecca

  1. Rebecca Religious figure · b. 259
  2. Rebecca West Writer · 1892–1983
  3. Rebecca De Mornay Actor · b. 1959
  4. Rebecca Romijn Actor · b. 1972
  5. Rebecca Clarke Composer · 1886–1979

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Rebecca in 2025?

Rebecca ranked #350 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 872 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rebecca?

758,106 babies have been named Rebecca in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rebecca most popular?

Rebecca peaked in 1981, when 16,801 newborns received the name.

Is Rebecca a boy or girl name?

Rebecca is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rebecca rising or falling?

Rebecca is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Rebecca?

Well-known people named Rebecca include Rebecca (religious figure), Rebecca West (writer), Rebecca De Mornay (actor).

Names like Rebecca

Compare Rebecca with similar names →