Rebel

♂ Boy

Pronounced REB-əl /ˈrɛb.əl/High

Meaning: One who resists authority; from Latin rebellis, 'making war again', used as a defiant word nameHigh

In 30 seconds: A name that arrives pre-loaded with attitude: Rebel is the Latin-born word for the one who pushes back. James Dean supplied the leather jacket.

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Origin HighEnglish, Latin

MeaningOne who resists authority; from Latin rebellis, 'making war again', used as a defiant word name

U.S. rank (2025)#3430 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births34 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 966

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rebel descends from Latin rebellis — 'waging war again' — and has labeled the defiant from medieval revolts to Star Wars' Rebel Alliance. As a given name it surfaced in the American South (with Confederate-era baggage worth knowing) and rebooted in the celebrity word-name era; Rebel Wilson carries it, and country families pair it with siblings like Maverick.

For a boy it remains very rare — a dare of a name, best suited to parents comfortable explaining it at every roll call.

Did you know? Rebel Without a Cause (1955) fixed the word to teenage cool forever — and actress Rebel Wilson proved it works on a birth certificate.

Overall data confidence 90%

Oxford English Dictionary — rebel — word etymology

Variations

RebelleReb

Nicknames

Reb

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rebel…

Maverick— the flagship defiant word name

Ryder— a fellow leather-jacket modern pick

Wilder— shares the untamed register

Mykel— shares the -el ending

Rylo— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Rebel

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rebel mean?

Rebel is the English word for one who resists authority, from Latin rebellis, 'making war again'.

How do you pronounce Rebel?

It's said REB-əl /ˈrɛb.əl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rebel a boy or girl name?

Rebel is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Rebel?

Rebel is a very rare word name in the U.S.