Given name & surname
Rebel
“an outlaw”
Rebel is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “an outlaw.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “an outlaw.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rebel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,456
- 966 boys · 1,490 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 186 babies
- 2025
- 84
- #3,204 for girls · #3,430 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 35% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 50 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,204 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 34 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,608 as a first name in 2020; 596 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rebel’s family of names
Rebel has a related form in Rebbie. Rebel has a related form in Rebe. Rebel has a related form in Rebbe.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Rebbievariant
- Rebevariant
- Rebellevariant
- Rebbeyvariant
- Rebbyvariant
- Rebbeevariant
- Rebbeavariant
- Rebbivariant
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People named Rebel
- Rebel WilsonAustralian actress, writer, and producerborn 1980
- Rebel RandallAmerican actress and radio personality (1922–2010)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rebel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Raleigh
“from the clearing of roe deer”
36% boys · 64% girls
Roe
“one who hunts deer”
46% boys · 54% girls
Ramsey
Ramsey is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the raven island; from the island of wild garlic.”
56% boys · 44% girls
Gentry
“woman with a high social standing” · “of good breeding; holding a high social standing”
52% boys · 48% girls
Silver
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27% boys · 73% girls
Ellington
“eel” · “belonging to”
34% boys · 66% girls
Larkin
“a pretty young woman” · “one who is fierce”
40% boys · 60% girls
Portland
“from the land near the port”
47% boys · 53% girls