Debra
Girl name · #4466 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Debra? In official American birth records, Debra has been tracked continuously since 1914, giving it 111 years of documented American history.
Debra ranks #4466 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 31 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3915, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 58,065 girls born in 2025 was named Debra.
The 111-year story
Debra first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1955, when 50,563 girls were named Debra — good for #4 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Debra per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Debra against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Debra in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Debra is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Debra will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Debra is most common
State-level data for Debra is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Debra
Statistically, parents drawn to Debra tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Debora, Doreen, Donna, Lynda, and Diane.
DeboraDoreenDonnaLyndaDianeLoraDiannaVicky
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Debra | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | #4460 |
| 2024 | 43 | #3575 |
| 2023 | 30 | #4565 |
| 2022 | 39 | #3827 |
| 2021 | 44 | #3491 |
| 2020 | 44 | #3450 |
| 2019 | 54 | #3002 |
| 2018 | 50 | #3201 |
| 2017 | 45 | #3436 |
| 2016 | 53 | #3100 |
| 2015 | 38 | #3915 |
| 2014 | 54 | #3080 |
| 2013 | 48 | #3314 |
| 2012 | 68 | #2632 |
| 2011 | 64 | #2725 |
| 2010 | 73 | #2514 |
| 2009 | 81 | #2375 |
| 2008 | 88 | #2234 |
| 2007 | 120 | #1784 |
| 2006 | 118 | #1761 |
| 2005 | 104 | #1855 |
| 2004 | 132 | #1520 |
| 2003 | 123 | #1561 |
| 2002 | 140 | #1376 |
| 2001 | 143 | #1340 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Debra?
In official American birth records, the name Debra first appeared in 1914 (over 111 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 111 years.
Is Debra a popular girl name?
Debra ranked #4466 among girls in 2025 with 31 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3915.
When was the name Debra most popular?
Debra peaked in 1955, when 50,563 American girls received the name (ranked #4 that year). Since 1955 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Debra?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 58,065 newborn American girls was named Debra. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.