Rachel Name Meaning: Origin, Pronunciation & Facts

What Does Rachel Mean?

Rachel is a name that means “ewe” or “one with purity.”

It is commonly used as a name because it is used in The Bible.

What is the Origin of the Name Rachel?

Rachel is an anglicization of the name Rahel (Hebrew).

According to baptismal records, Rachel first appeared to be used by English-speaking countries in the sixteenth century. It gained popularity amongst Protestant people in the mid-1500s because of its use as a moniker for a Biblical figure ⁽¹⁾.

It was first used as a name by the Hebrew people. Its influence extended to the Ashkenazi Jewish custom of providing matronymic surnames with a popular surname in this culture being Rokhlin ⁽²⁾.

How Popular is the Name Rachel?

Rachel is very common in English-speaking countries. Its variations and use as a surname are still popular among Hebrew and Ashkenazi Jewish communities.

In France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Israel, it is presently one of the five hundred most popular names for newborns.

In the United States specifically, it is ranked the 239th most common female name. In the past 20 years, it has always been above that ranking, with its highest ranking being the 21st most popular name in 2000 ⁽³⁾.

How Do I Pronounce Rachel?

Rachel is a disyllabic name that is pronounced similarly to its spelling. The phonetic pronunciation is “RAY-chel.”

In some countries, it is pronounced “RAH-kel” or “RAH-shell.” Spelling plays a role in the pronunciation of the name. Regardless of spelling, it is a disyllabic name, emphasizing the first syllable.

Is Rachel a Boy or Girl Name?

Rachel is a girl’s name. Based on history, Rachel is predominately a female name.

The Ashkenazi Jewish last name stemming from Rahel is given to men and women. The origin of the surname is matrilineal. Beyond that, there is not much evidence that suggests it is gaining popularity as a boy’s name.

Variations of Rachel

Here are a few versions and variations of Rachel in other countries and cultures.

• Racha (Arabic)
• Rachael (English)
• Rachela (Polish)
• Rachele (Italian)
• Rachelle (French)
• Rachíl (Greek)
• Racquel (English)
• Raechel (English)
• Ráhel (Hungarian)
• Rahela (Hawaiian, Croatian, Romanian)
• Ráichéal (Irish)
• Raahel (Malayalam)
• Raakel (Finnish)
• Raheli (Swahili)
• Raquel (Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, Spanish)

Nicknames for Rachel

Here are a few common nicknames for Rachel that you should know:

• Chel
• Chela
• Chelle
• Quel
• Rach
• Rachey
• Ray
• Shell
• Shelley

Similar Names to Rachel

Many names are similar to Rachel. If you like the name but want something slightly different. Here are a few name ideas that are similar to Rachel:

• Anna
• Hannah
• Leah
• Mary
• Rebecca
• Ruth
• Sarah
• Sheila
• Victoria

Middle Names for Rachel

Rachel is a classic name that lends itself to pairing well with many middle names. Rachel is a shorter name as it has only two syllables in most spellings and languages. In short, its brief nature makes it aesthetically pleasing with names of any length. Here are some ideas for middle names:

• Ann
• Belle
• Claire
• Diana
• Grace
• Ivy
• Jane
• Katherine
• Marie
• Olivia
• Quinn
• Renae

Sibling Names for Rachel

If you are looking for a name to pair with Rachel, try to find one with the same syllable count, the same beginning letter, or the same theme and origin. Fortunately, the name Rachel pairs well with many other names.

For a brother:

• David
• Daniel
• Eli
• Jonah
• Joshua
• Paul
• Pierre
• Robert
• Samson

For a sister:

• Catherine
• Elizabeth
• Esther
• Lily
• Natalie
• Rose
• Rebekah
• Sydney

Famous People Named Rachel

There are more famous people named Rachel than you might think! With the name gaining popularity in the 1990s and 2000s in mainstream vernacular, you might recognize the following:

• Rachel: The biblical figure, the wife that Jacob loved.
• Rachel Allen: Irish celebrity chef.
• Rachel Bilson: American actress.
• Rachel Brosnahan: American actress.
• Rachel David: Indian actress.
• Rachel Evans: Welsh chemist.
• Rachel McAdams: Canadian actress.
• Rachel Riley: British television presenter.
• Rachel Yakar: French opera singer.

Rachel in Popular Culture

Since the name gained popularity in the 1990s, there have been plenty of characters from popular culture named Rachel. Take a look at the characters you know and the ones you might have missed:

• Rachel Aldrige: Character in the television show “Downton Abbey.”
• Rachel Berry: Character in the television series “Glee.”
• Rachel Green: Character in the television series “Friends.”
• Rachel Lynde: Supporting character in the 1908 novel “Anne of Green Gables.”
• Rachel Roth: Character in the DC Comics Universe.
• Rachel Summers: Character in the Marvel Universe.

FAQs

These are some of the most commonly asked questions about the name Rachel.