UK girl's name
Rivka
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "ensnarer" or "to tie firmly".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rivka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rivka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1491, with 21 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 32 births.
This profile covers 583 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 66% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 580 living people in the UK are called Rivka. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rivka ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 21 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 32 girls were registered as Rivka.
- • About 580 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rivka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1491
2024
Births in 2024
21
Latest year
Peak year
2019
32 births
Estimated living
580
2026
Meaning
What does Rivka mean?
Rivka is a Hebrew name derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "rivkah," meaning "to tie firmly" or "to ensnare." It is the feminine form of the name Rivka, which has its origins in ancient Semitic languages like Akkadian and Aramaic. The name is first mentioned in the Book of Genesis as the name of the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau.
This name's earliest recorded use dates back to the biblical period, around the 2nd millennium BCE. In the Hebrew Bible, Rivka is portrayed as a kind and hospitable woman who played a significant role in ensuring the continuity of the Abrahamic covenant. Her story is detailed in Genesis 24-27, where she is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman who was chosen by Abraham's servant to be Isaac's wife.
Throughout history, the name Rivka has been borne by several notable figures. One of the earliest is Rivka bat Meir, a 12th-century French Jewish scholar and poet known for her contributions to Hebrew poetry and liturgy. Another prominent Rivka was Rivka Rübina, a 16th-century Jewish artist and calligrapher from the Ottoman Empire, renowned for her intricate and beautiful Hebrew manuscripts.
In more recent times, the name Rivka has been carried by several influential women. Rivka Guber (1888-1962) was a Polish-born American activist and author who advocated for women's rights and Jewish causes. Rivka Michaeli (born 1960) is an Israeli politician and former journalist who has served as a member of the Knesset since 2013.
Another noteworthy Rivka is Rivka Galchen (born 1976), an American writer and novelist known for her critically acclaimed works, including the novel "Atmospheric Disturbances" and the short story collection "American Innovations." Rivka Ravitz (born 1976) is an Israeli businesswoman and co-founder of the popular Israeli technology company Wix.com.
The name Rivka continues to be popular among Jewish communities worldwide, particularly in Israel, where it is often given as a tribute to the biblical matriarch. Its enduring significance stems from its deep-rooted connection to Jewish heritage and the influential figures who have borne this name throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rivka over time
The chart below shows babies named Rivka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rivka, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 21 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rivka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rivka was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1388 | 116 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1432 | 231 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1405 | 178 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1302 | 58 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rivka
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rivka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rivka in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rivka was ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales, with 21 births registered.
When was Rivka most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 32 babies registered as Rivka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rivka?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "ensnarer" or "to tie firmly".
How many people are called Rivka in the UK?
A total of 583 babies have been registered as Rivka across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.