# Rebecca

/ɹəˈbɛkə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rebecca
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: a female given name of Biblical origin, derived from the Hebrew name Rivqah.

- Rebecca decided to start her own business after working in marketing for ten years.
- The name Rebecca has maintained consistent popularity in the United Kingdom since the mid-twentieth century, often appearing in the top name rankings.

### 2. historical protester

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

a person who took part in the Rebecca Riots in Wales during the 1840s.

For teachers: a participant in the Rebecca Riots, a series of social protests against high tolls and poverty in rural Wales between 1839 and 1843.

- The Rebeccas dressed in women's clothes to hide their identities while they destroyed the toll gates.
- Historical accounts describe how the Rebeccas, often led by men in drag, targeted the symbols of economic oppression in the Welsh countryside.

Usage: Usually capitalized and often used in the plural to refer to the group of rioters.

## Examples

- Rebecca is starting her new job on Monday.
- The author Daphne du Maurier used the name Rebecca for the title character of her famous 1938 gothic novel.
- In the biblical narrative, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau, playing a pivotal role in the lineage of the patriarchs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.