Deborah

Meaning: Its source is Dvorah, a Hebrew name meaning "Bee."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Deb, Debbi, Debbie, Debby, Debi, Debs, Debbe and Deby

Compound Forms: Deliana

Alternative Spellings: Debera and Debora

Variant Forms: Debbra, Debra, Debrah, Debroah and Binah

Source Forms: Devorah and Dvorah

Popularity: The name Deborah ranked 546th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 25th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name makes a strong showing in state popularity data of the 1960s, but makes few (if any) appearances on lists compiled after that period.

Narrative: According to the Jewish scriptures, Deborah was one of the earliest judges, or leaders, of her people. Considered a divinely inspired prophetess, she mobilized the Jewish nation (which was only beginning to regard itself as such) to affirm its relationship to God and to resist the aggressions of the neighboring Canaanites.

In addition, an extended passage of the Book of Judges is attributed to her. Known as the Song of Deborah, it is one of the most ancient examples of Hebrew poetry in existence. Scholars estimate that it dates from the 12th century B.C.

Arts and Music

Deborah Harry (born 1945)
American singer.
- Musical guest on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Musical Guests on ''Saturday Night Live'')
Deborah Sussman
- American graphic designer (see list of Graphic Designers)

Leadership

Deborah Price (born 1951)
American politician.
- Representative, R-Ohio, 1993- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
Deborah Willingham
- 30th Most Powerful Woman, VP Business and Enterprise Division Marketing, Microsoft (see list of 1999 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)

Miscellaneous

Deborah Bryant
- 1966 Miss America titleholder, representing Kansas (see list of Miss America Winners)
Deborah Carthy-Deu
- 1985 Miss Universe titleholder, representing Puerto Rico (see list of Miss Universe Winners)
Deborah
Judge and prophet who united the Israelites against the Canaanites.
- Appears in Judges (see list of Biblical Names from the Old Testament)
Deborah Read Franklin
- Wife of Benjamin Franklin (see list of Wives of Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Deborah Scudder Hart
- Wife of John Hart (see list of Wives of Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Deborah Sampson (born 1760, died 1827)
American soldier in the Revolutionary War.
- First woman known to have impersonated a man in order to join the American army (see list of Soldiers & Swashbucklers)

Sports

Deborah Campagnoni
Italian athlete.
- 1992 Olympic alpine skiing gold medal winner for Super Giant Slalom; 1994 gold medal winner for Giant Slalom (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Downhill Skiing)
Deborah Compagnoni (born 1970)
Italian athlete.
- 1998 Olympic alpine skiing gold medal winner for Giant Slalom (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Downhill Skiing)

Stage and Screen

Deborah Adair
American actress.
- Portrayed by Lucy Cabot (see list of Actors on ''Melrose Place'')
Deborah Kerr (born 1921)
Scottish actress.
- On Hollywood''s Footprints of Fame (see list of Celebrities Honored by Mann's Chinese Theater)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)

The Literary World

Deborah Blum
- 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner for Beat Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting)
Deborah Nelson
- 1997 Pulitzer Prize winner for Investigative Reporting, with Eric Nalder and Alex Tizon (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting)