Rebecca
Female nameHebrew
✨ Meaning
Rebecca comes from the Hebrew Rivkah, whose meaning is uncertain. The traditional reading connects it to a root meaning to tie or bind, giving senses such as 'to bind fast' or, more loosely, 'captivating,' while other proposals point to a word for a well-fed animal or to a term from herding. Because the evidence is thin, careful sources describe the meaning as unresolved rather than choosing one gloss.
🌍 Origin
Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau, and the account of her meeting a servant at a well is one of the most detailed narrative scenes in Genesis. The name entered English use after the Reformation and gained further literary standing from Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. It was very widely used in the later twentieth century and is now easing into the quieter zone that usually precedes revival.
📈 Popularity Trend
⭐ Famous People Named Rebecca
- Rebecca West
- Rebecca Ferguson
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rebecca mean?
The Hebrew Rivkah has an uncertain meaning. The traditional reading connects it to a root meaning to tie or bind.
Is it spelled Rebecca or Rebekah?
Both are used. Rebekah is closer to the Hebrew transliteration, while Rebecca reflects the Latin and Greek form.
Who was Rebecca in the Bible?
The wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau, introduced in a long narrative scene at a well in Genesis.