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Rachel

♀ Girl

Pronounced RAY-chul /ˈreɪtʃəl/High

Meaning: Ewe; female sheepHigh

In 30 seconds: One of the great biblical matriarchs, Rachel means 'ewe' in Hebrew — a pastoral name carrying centuries of grace and deep humanity. Classic, warm, and endlessly literary, Rachel is never truly out of fashion.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningEwe; female sheep
U.S. rank (2025)#250 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,225 girls (0.07% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1985
Total births (all-time)≈ 573,920

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Rachel (רָחֵל) is a Hebrew name meaning 'ewe' (female sheep). In the Hebrew Bible, Rachel is one of the four matriarchs of Israel and the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob. She is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve sons who founded the twelve tribes of Israel. Her story in Genesis 29–35 is one of the most richly human narratives in the ancient text.

Rachel has been a staple of English naming since the Protestant Reformation, when biblical names gained widespread use. It peaked in the United States in the 1990s, in part due to the character Rachel Green in the television series Friends, and has remained in the top 200 ever since.

Did you know? In the Book of Genesis, Jacob worked fourteen years — seven for his uncle Laban and seven more after being tricked — to win Rachel as his wife, one of the most devoted love stories in the Bible.
Overall data confidence 98%
Behind the Name — Rachel — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RachaelRachelleRaquel

Nicknames

RachRaeRache

Famous Bearers

  • ★Rachel (biblical) (c. 18th century BCE)
    Hebrew matriarch, beloved wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

If you like Rachel…

Leah— fellow Hebrew matriarch and sister-wife in the same Genesis narrative
Miriam— ancient Hebrew prophetess name with the same biblical depth and warmth
Naomi— Hebrew Old Testament matriarch with the same timeless literary resonance
Rebecca— Hebrew matriarch of the same generation with the same classic Christian-naming history

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rachel mean?

Rachel is a Hebrew name meaning 'ewe' (a female sheep). It is the name of the beloved matriarch and wife of Jacob in the Book of Genesis.

How do you pronounce Rachel?

It is said RAY-chul /ˈreɪtʃəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rachel a boy or girl name?

Rachel is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Rachel?

Rachel has ranked consistently in the U.S. top 200 for girls and remains widely used globally.