The first name Rachel
A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “ewe”.
Pronounced /ˈɹeɪ.tʃəl/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Rachel means “ewe” in Hebrew.
Borrowed from Late Latin Rāchēl, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”). Doublet of Raquel.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 106 girls were named Rachel, making it the 394th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 2,120 births (#28).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rachel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rachel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,225 girls born in the United States were named Rachel, the 250th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1985, when 16,360 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Rachel in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Rachel
157 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rachel CarsonAmerican marine biologist and conservationist (1907–1964)
- Rachel McAdamsCanadian actress (born 1978)
- Rachel WeiszBritish actress (born 1970)
- Rachel MaddowAmerican television news host and political commentator (born 1973)
- Rachel ZeglerAmerican actress (born 2001)
- Rachel BilsonAmerican actress, born 1981
- Rachel CorrieAmerican anti-war and human rights activist, 1979–2003
- Rachel BrosnahanAmerican actress, born 1990
- Rachel GriffithsAustralian actress, born 1968
- Rachel NicholsAmerican actress and model (born 1980)
- Rachel RuyschDutch artist (1664–1750)
- Rachel PlattenAmerican singer, songwriter and author (born 1981)
More Hebrew girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Rachel mean?
- Rachel means “ewe” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Rachel?
- Borrowed from Late Latin Rāchēl, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”). Doublet of Raquel.
- How popular is the name Rachel?
- In 2025, 106 girls born in England and Wales were named Rachel, ranking 394th. Its peak was 1997, with 2,120 births.
- What are nicknames for Rachel?
- Common nicknames for Rachel include Ray, Rae, Rach, Raerae.
- Is Rachel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 575,748 US babies named Rachel since 1880 were girls.
- When was Rachel most popular?
- 1985 in the United States, when 16,360 babies were named Rachel, its highest rank at 13th.
- How do you pronounce Rachel?
- Rachel is /ˈɹeɪ.tʃəl/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Rachel?
- Rachael, Rachelle and Rach.
- Is Rachel also a surname?
- Yes. Rachel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.