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Rebekah

♀ Girl

Pronounced reh-BEK-uh /rɪˈbɛk.ə/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Rivkah, possibly connected to a root meaning to tie, bind, or ensnare; traditionally interpreted as captivating or a snare for the heart due to her beautyHigh

In 30 seconds: Rebekah is the biblical Hebrew spelling of Rebecca, meaning to tie firmly or ensnare, borne by the matriarch wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau — one of the most vivid and resourceful women in the Old Testament.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningFrom Hebrew Rivkah, possibly connected to a root meaning to tie, bind, or ensnare; traditionally interpreted as captivating or a snare for the heart due to her beauty
U.S. rank (2025)#884 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births302 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1996
Total births (all-time)≈ 75,784

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199618832025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Rebekah is the traditional biblical spelling of Rebecca, from Hebrew Rivkah, whose etymology is debated but most often connected to a root meaning to tie, bind, or ensnare. In the Book of Genesis Rebekah is the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau; she is first encountered at a well, where her generosity and resourcefulness mark her as Isaac's divinely chosen bride. Her narrative in Genesis includes some of the most dramatically and morally complex passages in the entire Torah.

The name has been used in England since the Protestant Reformation, when Puritan families embraced Old Testament names directly from the Hebrew scriptures. The -ah spelling (Rebekah) reflects the original Hebrew more accurately than Rebecca and is favoured in some religious communities and by parents seeking a more distinctive form. Both spellings have remained in steady use in English-speaking countries. Rebekah sits comfortably among the group of Old Testament women's names — Miriam, Deborah, Leah — that have maintained consistent use across centuries.

Did you know? The biblical Rebekah is remarkable in the Genesis narrative for her active agency: she is the one who initiates the scheme by which her younger son Jacob receives the blessing of the firstborn that was intended for Esau — a bold act that shaped the entire course of Israelite history.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Rebekah — etymology and biblical contextGenesis 24–27 (Hebrew Bible) — primary narrative source

Variations

RebeccaRebekkahRivkaRivkah

Nicknames

BeccaBecBeckyReba

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If you like Rebekah…

Rachel— Hebrew Old Testament matriarch name with the same ancient biblical gravitas
Miriam— Hebrew Old Testament women's name of comparable age and religious significance
Leah— biblical matriarch name, the sister wife of Rachel, sharing the same Israelite narrative context
Deborah— Old Testament women's name of comparable stature and long English-speaking tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rebekah mean?

Rebekah comes from Hebrew Rivkah, meaning to tie or ensnare; it is traditionally associated with captivating beauty.

How do you pronounce Rebekah?

It is said reh-BEK-uh — three syllables, stress on the second.

What is the difference between Rebekah and Rebecca?

They are the same name; Rebekah is the closer transliteration of the original Hebrew Rivkah, while Rebecca is the Anglicised spelling via Latin and Greek.

Who was Rebekah in the Bible?

Rebekah was the wife of the patriarch Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau; she is one of the four matriarchs of Israel in the Book of Genesis.