Rebekah is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It comes from the Hebrew word "Ribqah," which means "to tie" or "secure." In the Old Testament of the Bible, Rebekah was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She is considered a matriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The name Rebekah first appears in the Bible in Genesis 24:60, where Abraham's servant meets Rebekah at a well and brings her back to marry Isaac. The name has since been used in various cultures and languages throughout history.
Today, Rebekah is still a popular given name for girls, particularly among Jewish families and those with an interest in biblical names. It can also be spelled "Rebekkah," "Rivkah," or "Ribka" depending on the language and cultural tradition.
In terms of its meaning, the name Rebekah carries positive connotations such as strength, stability, and security. It is often associated with wisdom, kindness, and nurturing qualities due to the biblical character's role as a mother and wife.
Overall, the name Rebekah has a rich history and significant cultural importance, making it a meaningful choice for parents looking for a strong and timeless feminine given name.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Rebekah has seen a significant increase in popularity among parents in the United States since the early 20th century.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of births named Rebekah varied from year to year but generally remained low. Between 1883 and 1927, the annual births with the name Rebekah fluctuated between a low of 5 in certain years to a high of 27 in others.
However, starting in the 1920s, there was a noticeable rise in the popularity of the name. By the 1940s, the number of babies named Rebekah had more than doubled from previous decades, with 40 births in 1940 and peaking at 88 births in 1947.
The 1950s saw a further increase in popularity, with over 200 births each year. This trend continued into the 1960s, with the number of births named Rebekah exceeding 300 by 1969. The peak of this era was reached in 1973, with 763 babies named Rebekah.
The popularity of the name Rebekah reached its zenith in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During these years, over 1500 babies were named Rebekah annually, peaking at a remarkable 2059 births in 1982.
However, since the mid-1980s, the popularity of the name Rebekah has gradually declined. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, annual births with this name had fallen to around 1000. This downward trend continued into the 2010s, with fewer than 700 babies named Rebekah each year between 2010 and 2019.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Rebekah has continued to decrease. In 2020, there were only 351 births named Rebekah, and this number fell further to 286 in 2022. As of 2023, the total number of births named Rebekah in the United States stands at 75,161 since records began.
In conclusion, while the name Rebekah has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over time, it has nevertheless become a well-established choice among parents in the United States. Despite its decline in recent years, it remains a classic and timeless name with a rich history.