Meaning & History
Rebeccah is a variant spelling of Rebecca, a female given name of English usage. The name Rebecca derives from the Hebrew רִבְקָה (Rivqa), likely from a Semitic root meaning "join, tie, snare." In the Old Testament, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 24–27). After the Protestant Reformation, Rebecca was adopted as an English Christian name, especially among Puritans in the 17th century. The spelling Rebeccah reflects a non-standard orthographic variant, often used alongside Rebeckah, and may be employed for individuality or to denote a distinct pronunciation hint. While less common, its use is consistent with the overall popularity of Rebecca in English-speaking countries, especially peaking in the late 20th century.
Usage and Cultural Significance
Rebecca has maintained consistent usage since the Reformation, buoyed by classic literary characters: a Jewish woman in Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe (1819) and the eponymous deceased title figure in Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca (1938). The variant Beccah or Rach spelling does not diminish its biblical resonance, and diminutives such as Becca and Becky are common nicknames.
Etymology
The root name Rebecca comes from Hebrew Rivqa, connoting a binding or snaring. The spelling Rebeccah adds an unetymological 'h' to the more standard Rebecca, possibly by analogy with Biblical Rebekah. Variant forms include Rivqa (Biblical Hebrew) and Rebekka (Norwegian, Icelandic).
- Meaning: Bind, snare (from Hebrew)
- Origin: Variant of Rebecca
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: English-speaking countries (chiefly); also Swedish, Norwegian, Slovak as Rebeka/Rebekka
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Rebeccah