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

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

Compound Forms: Tambra and Debralee

Variant Forms: Devra

Popularity: The name Debra ranked 39th 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.