Fun Facts About the Name Rachel
- An established favorite: Rachel held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 43 consecutive years, from 1968 through 2010.
- More than 575 thousand babies named Rachel: U.S. records list 575,711 babies given the name Rachel from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,791 boys received the name Rachel - about 1 boy for every 320 girls.
What Does the Name Rachel Mean?
Rachel is a Hebrew name meaning 'ewe.' The name is identical to the Hebrew noun רָחֵל, the ordinary word for an adult female sheep. It is a single noun rather than a compound name, and it does not contain a divine element. In the Hebrew Bible the word is used literally for ewes, and the same noun is the name of Jacob's wife. Later Jewish and Christian readings of Rachel as a mourning figure or a symbol of contemplation interpret her story; they do not change the name's basic etymology.
Rachel Name History & Origins
In the book of Genesis, Rachel is the younger daughter of Laban and the favored wife of Jacob. Jacob meets her at a well, works seven years for her, and is tricked into marrying her older sister Leah first; he then works another seven years for Rachel. She is the mother of Joseph and, after a long period of barrenness, of Benjamin. She dies on the road near Ephrath, also called Bethlehem, after Benjamin's birth, and her tomb there is a traditional site.
The Hebrew name passed into Greek as Ῥαχήλ in the Septuagint and into Latin as Rachel in the Vulgate. English Bibles, including the King James Version, use Rachel. The same biblical figure lies behind Spanish and Portuguese Raquel, Italian Rachele, and Scandinavian Rakel, while Yiddish has the form Rokhl. These are independent adaptations of the biblical name in those languages rather than borrowings from English.
Jeremiah 31:15 pictures Rachel weeping for her children as they are led into exile, and Matthew 2:18 applies that verse to the children killed by Herod. In Jewish tradition, Rachel's tomb near Bethlehem is a place of pilgrimage. Dante's Divine Comedy uses Rachel as a figure of the contemplative life, contrasting her with her sister Leah.
How Popular is the Name Rachel?
Rachel remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1968 to 2010. Its highest annual birth count was in 1985, and people born that year turn 41 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #250 | 1,225 | 0.0762% |
| 2024 | #247 | 1,285 | 0.0797% |
| 2023 | #254 | 1,223 | 0.0763% |
| 2022 | #241 | 1,261 | 0.0769% |
| 2021 | #239 | 1,271 | 0.0775% |
| 2020 | #226 | 1,305 | 0.0808% |
| 2019 | #191 | 1,547 | 0.0922% |
| 2018 | #198 | 1,558 | 0.0916% |
| 2017 | #191 | 1,622 | 0.0940% |
| 2016 | #171 | 1,883 | 0.1063% |
| 2015 | #167 | 1,938 | 0.1086% |
| 2014 | #155 | 2,090 | 0.1170% |
| 2013 | #137 | 2,324 | 0.1325% |
| 2012 | #131 | 2,418 | 0.1373% |
| 2011 | #115 | 2,664 | 0.1515% |
| 2010 | #99 | 3,023 | 0.1701% |
| 2009 | #89 | 3,588 | 0.1953% |
| 2008 | #74 | 4,086 | 0.2161% |
| 2007 | #59 | 4,838 | 0.2517% |
| 2006 | #48 | 5,546 | 0.2917% |
| 2005 | #38 | 6,223 | 0.3368% |
| 2004 | #34 | 6,920 | 0.3769% |
| 2003 | #28 | 7,996 | 0.4376% |
| 2002 | #24 | 8,943 | 0.4977% |
| 2001 | #24 | 9,555 | 0.5307% |
| 2000 | #21 | 10,687 | 0.5885% |
| 1999 | #19 | 11,631 | 0.6557% |
| 1998 | #15 | 12,210 | 0.6910% |
| 1997 | #13 | 13,798 | 0.7927% |
| 1996 | #9 | 16,120 | 0.9196% |
| 1995 | #12 | 16,047 | 0.9125% |
| 1994 | #13 | 15,492 | 0.8675% |
| 1993 | #14 | 15,973 | 0.8830% |
| 1992 | #16 | 15,840 | 0.8590% |
| 1991 | #14 | 16,343 | 0.8716% |
| 1990 | #16 | 15,710 | 0.8275% |
| 1989 | #18 | 15,357 | 0.8330% |
| 1988 | #19 | 15,348 | 0.8618% |
| 1987 | #17 | 15,644 | 0.8998% |
| 1986 | #15 | 15,456 | 0.9009% |
| 1985 | #13 | 16,361 | 0.9508% |
| 1984 | #15 | 15,838 | 0.9406% |
| 1983 | #20 | 14,592 | 0.8734% |
| 1982 | #21 | 13,873 | 0.8193% |
| 1981 | #22 | 12,590 | 0.7548% |
| 1980 | #23 | 11,619 | 0.6998% |
| 1979 | #27 | 10,229 | 0.6372% |
| 1978 | #25 | 9,802 | 0.6399% |
| 1977 | #26 | 8,975 | 0.5854% |
| 1976 | #23 | 8,454 | 0.5770% |
| 1975 | #26 | 8,228 | 0.5644% |
| 1974 | #36 | 7,399 | 0.5042% |
| 1973 | #42 | 6,103 | 0.4185% |
| 1972 | #40 | 6,417 | 0.4218% |
| 1971 | #54 | 6,113 | 0.3674% |
| 1970 | #58 | 6,030 | 0.3449% |
| 1969 | #69 | 5,242 | 0.3107% |
| 1968 | #92 | 3,726 | 0.2271% |
| 1967 | #105 | 3,314 | 0.2007% |
| 1966 | #154 | 2,277 | 0.1346% |
| 1965 | #175 | 2,012 | 0.1140% |
| 1964 | #173 | 2,260 | 0.1193% |
| 1963 | #179 | 2,178 | 0.1130% |
| 1962 | #194 | 1,939 | 0.0986% |
| 1961 | #186 | 2,054 | 0.1018% |
| 1960 | #198 | 1,792 | 0.0886% |
| 1959 | #201 | 1,744 | 0.0862% |
| 1958 | #201 | 1,663 | 0.0827% |
| 1957 | #194 | 1,821 | 0.0891% |
| 1956 | #197 | 1,672 | 0.0833% |
| 1955 | #185 | 1,802 | 0.0922% |
| 1954 | #182 | 1,806 | 0.0930% |
| 1953 | #175 | 1,780 | 0.0946% |
| 1952 | #185 | 1,599 | 0.0862% |
| 1951 | #202 | 1,435 | 0.0797% |
| 1950 | #189 | 1,454 | 0.0849% |
| 1949 | #191 | 1,437 | 0.0840% |
| 1948 | #195 | 1,388 | 0.0817% |
| 1947 | #190 | 1,447 | 0.0816% |
| 1946 | #196 | 1,234 | 0.0785% |
| 1945 | #174 | 1,207 | 0.0923% |
| 1944 | #172 | 1,250 | 0.0942% |
| 1943 | #170 | 1,371 | 0.0983% |
| 1942 | #163 | 1,427 | 0.1056% |
| 1941 | #159 | 1,384 | 0.1146% |
| 1940 | #166 | 1,264 | 0.1105% |
| 1939 | #160 | 1,345 | 0.1227% |
| 1938 | #165 | 1,279 | 0.1159% |
| 1937 | #163 | 1,229 | 0.1155% |
| 1936 | #163 | 1,208 | 0.1161% |
| 1935 | #164 | 1,198 | 0.1143% |
| 1934 | #163 | 1,181 | 0.1131% |
| 1933 | #161 | 1,142 | 0.1133% |
| 1932 | #156 | 1,254 | 0.1175% |
| 1931 | #161 | 1,171 | 0.1100% |
| 1930 | #164 | 1,261 | 0.1120% |
| 1929 | #167 | 1,214 | 0.1087% |
| 1928 | #177 | 1,180 | 0.1023% |
| 1927 | #169 | 1,286 | 0.1078% |
| 1926 | #165 | 1,389 | 0.1172% |
| 1925 | #165 | 1,439 | 0.1182% |
| 1924 | #157 | 1,600 | 0.1281% |
| 1923 | #160 | 1,483 | 0.1229% |
| 1922 | #154 | 1,541 | 0.1283% |
| 1921 | #152 | 1,583 | 0.1284% |
| 1920 | #156 | 1,484 | 0.1238% |
| 1919 | #150 | 1,488 | 0.1317% |
| 1918 | #148 | 1,542 | 0.1332% |
| 1917 | #157 | 1,339 | 0.1238% |
| 1916 | #153 | 1,328 | 0.1272% |
| 1915 | #156 | 1,205 | 0.1225% |
| 1914 | #151 | 975 | 0.1280% |
| 1913 | #145 | 827 | 0.1324% |
| 1912 | #151 | 703 | 0.1260% |
| 1911 | #150 | 537 | 0.1284% |
| 1910 | #151 | 538 | 0.1357% |
| 1909 | #154 | 462 | 0.1331% |
| 1908 | #159 | 425 | 0.1271% |
| 1907 | #154 | 420 | 0.1318% |
| 1906 | #158 | 366 | 0.1239% |
| 1905 | #143 | 421 | 0.1444% |
| 1904 | #152 | 356 | 0.1293% |
| 1903 | #142 | 383 | 0.1462% |
| 1902 | #141 | 393 | 0.1488% |
| 1901 | #135 | 369 | 0.1542% |
| 1900 | #153 | 379 | 0.1264% |
| 1899 | #145 | 324 | 0.1390% |
| 1898 | #138 | 367 | 0.1418% |
| 1897 | #154 | 297 | 0.1268% |
| 1896 | #137 | 348 | 0.1463% |
| 1895 | #130 | 351 | 0.1502% |
| 1894 | #136 | 317 | 0.1422% |
| 1893 | #134 | 321 | 0.1508% |
| 1892 | #122 | 369 | 0.1738% |
| 1891 | #134 | 267 | 0.1439% |
| 1890 | #124 | 318 | 0.1670% |
| 1889 | #134 | 266 | 0.1491% |
| 1888 | #129 | 281 | 0.1573% |
| 1887 | #126 | 226 | 0.1548% |
| 1886 | #130 | 213 | 0.1474% |
| 1885 | #122 | 212 | 0.1593% |
| 1884 | #115 | 230 | 0.1783% |
| 1883 | #121 | 174 | 0.1549% |
| 1882 | #109 | 203 | 0.1882% |
| 1881 | #114 | 157 | 0.1707% |
| 1880 | #109 | 166 | 0.1824% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | #13,636 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #13,565 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #10,495 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,001 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,118 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2007 | #10,625 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #10,387 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #6,131 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #2,999 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #5,482 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #5,081 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #8,129 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #5,828 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #4,292 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #3,968 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #3,244 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1996 | #3,001 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #2,672 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1994 | #2,921 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #2,761 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #2,728 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1991 | #2,281 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #1,932 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1989 | #996 | 106 | 0.0053% |
| 1988 | #1,317 | 62 | 0.0032% |
| 1987 | #1,229 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1986 | #1,315 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1985 | #1,054 | 77 | 0.0042% |
| 1984 | #981 | 83 | 0.0046% |
| 1983 | #1,466 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1982 | #1,144 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1981 | #1,324 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1980 | #1,223 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1979 | #1,484 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 1978 | #1,529 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1977 | #1,505 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1976 | #1,815 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1975 | #2,049 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #1,493 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 1973 | #2,020 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #2,509 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #1,551 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1970 | #2,042 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1969 | #2,033 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #2,693 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,443 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #3,182 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #2,439 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,931 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,483 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #3,553 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,588 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #3,520 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #3,841 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,485 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #2,919 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #2,290 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #4,239 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #2,860 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #2,474 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #3,292 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,618 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,936 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #2,917 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #2,494 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #1,740 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1940 | #3,067 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,579 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #2,608 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #2,173 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1936 | #1,713 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1935 | #2,363 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1934 | #2,097 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1933 | #2,506 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #2,438 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #3,909 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #2,563 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #3,302 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #3,704 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,320 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,332 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #4,750 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,959 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #2,939 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #3,428 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,321 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #4,073 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,445 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,129 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #3,326 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,639 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1910 | #1,789 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1900 | #1,460 | 5 | 0.0033% |
| 1899 | #1,171 | 5 | 0.0047% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
