Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Rochel

Rochel

♀ Girl

Pronounced ROKH-uhl /ˈrɔx.əl/Medium

Meaning: the Yiddish form of Rachel, from Hebrew meaning 'ewe'Medium

In 30 seconds: Rochel is the Yiddish form of Rachel, a Hebrew name meaning 'ewe', a female sheep. It carries an Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumYiddish, Hebrew
Meaningthe Yiddish form of Rachel, from Hebrew meaning 'ewe'
U.S. rank (2025)#1466 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births147 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,022

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519472025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rachel is an old Hebrew name whose meaning, 'ewe', reflects a pastoral world; Rochel is the way that name sounds and is spelled in Yiddish. The form is rooted in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, where Rachel has long been a beloved name. So Rochel is the same name, carried through a particular community's speech.

It belongs to a wide spread of forms across languages, including Rachel, Rahel, and Rahil, each reflecting how different communities pronounce the Hebrew original. The soft middle vowel gives Rochel its distinctly Yiddish sound.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Rochel is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Rochel — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

RahilRəhiləRachelRhachelRahel

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rochel…

Rachel— the Hebrew name that Rochel renders in Yiddish, same 'ewe' meaning
Raizel— another Yiddish girls' name from the same Ashkenazi naming world
Shaina— a Yiddish name sharing Rochel's Ashkenazi heritage
Jael— lands in the same popularity range
Yael— echoes that soft -el sound

Explore names like Rochel

By themenatureyiddish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rochel mean?

Rochel is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Yiddish tradition.

How do you pronounce Rochel?

It's commonly said ROKH-uhl /ˈrɔx.əl/.

Is Rochel a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Rochel is used as a girl name.

How popular is Rochel?

In 2024, Rochel ranked #1700 in the U.S. for girls, with 120 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia