Becky

Becky is a feminine given name that is commonly used as a diminutive or standalone form of Rebecca. The name Rebecca derives from the Hebrew Rivka, and while the precise meaning is debated, Rivka is often associated with concepts such as “captivating” or “to bind.” In English-speaking countries, Becky has been used as an independent given name since the 19th century and remains common today.

Notable real-world bearers include Becky G, the American singer and actress born Rebbeca Marie Gomez in 1997; Becky Lynch, the Irish professional wrestler whose real name is Rebecca Quin (born 1987); and Becky Hammon, an American basketball coach and former player born in 1977. In literature and media, Beckys appear as characters such as Becky Sharp in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, Becky Bloomwood in Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, Becky Thatcher in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, among others.

In contemporary usage, the name has also entered slang in some contexts to refer to a stereotype of a certain young white woman. The phrase “Becky with the good hair,” popularized in discussions around Beyoncé’s Lemonade (2016), illustrates how the name can appear in pop culture beyond individual identities. Overall, Becky remains a widely recognized English-language given name with a long-standing presence in real and fictional lives.