Rachel first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rachel has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rachel

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "ewe" or "female sheep".

Popularity of Rachel by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rachel is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Rachel being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,209 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rachel.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 1,209
2022 0 1,247
2021 0 1,269
2020 0 1,303
2019 0 1,547
2018 5 1,557
2017 0 1,619
2016 0 1,879
2015 0 1,936
2014 5 2,088
2013 0 2,321
2012 7 2,417
2011 0 2,661
2010 0 3,020
2009 5 3,586
2008 5 4,083
2007 7 4,836
2006 7 5,538
2005 13 6,218
2004 34 6,918
2003 14 7,990
2002 15 8,942
2001 8 9,554
2000 12 10,685
1999 17 11,631
1998 18 12,210
1997 23 13,798
1996 25 16,118
1995 28 16,047
1994 25 15,490
1993 26 15,973
1992 26 15,838
1991 31 16,342
1990 40 15,709
1989 106 15,357
1988 62 15,345
1987 63 15,644
1986 57 15,455
1985 77 16,362
1984 83 15,842
1983 43 14,592
1982 64 13,871
1981 50 12,590
1980 57 11,622
1979 41 10,230
1978 38 9,804
1977 38 8,975
1976 28 8,453
1975 23 8,228
1974 35 7,399

The history of the first name Rachel

The name Rachel has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the biblical Hebrew name Rāchēl, which likely originated from the Hebrew word rāchēl, meaning "ewe" or "female sheep". The name's meaning is often interpreted as "one with the strength of God" or "one with the vision of God".

Rachel is a prominent name in the Hebrew Bible, where it is borne by the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob. She is described as beautiful and the object of Jacob's love, for whom he worked for seven years to earn her hand in marriage. The story of Rachel's struggle with infertility and her eventual giving birth to Joseph and Benjamin is a significant narrative in the Book of Genesis.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rachel can be found in the Book of Genesis, which is traditionally dated to around the 6th or 5th century BCE. The name's appearance in this ancient text contributed to its widespread use among Jewish communities throughout history.

In the Middle Ages, the name Rachel gained popularity among Christians, particularly in Western Europe. One notable bearer of the name was Rachel de Verduyn (c. 1315-1350), a Flemish mystic and Beguine who was known for her spiritual writings.

During the Renaissance period, the name Rachel was famously borne by Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750), a Dutch artist celebrated for her exquisite still-life paintings of flowers. Her works were highly sought after by patrons across Europe and are now housed in prestigious collections worldwide.

In the 19th century, the name Rachel gained renewed prominence with the celebrated French actress Rachel Félix (1821-1858), whose real name was Élisa Raquel Félix. She was renowned for her performances in classical tragedies and was considered one of the greatest tragic actresses of her time.

Another notable Rachel from this period was Rachel Crothers (1878-1958), an American playwright and theater director who was a pioneer in the development of American drama. Her plays often explored themes of feminism and social issues, and she was a influential figure in the theater community.

As the name Rachel has deep roots in various cultures and time periods, it has been borne by numerous other historical figures throughout the ages, contributing to its enduring popularity and rich cultural significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rachel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rachel, please contact us.

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"Rachel first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rachel-meaning-and-history/.

"Rachel first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rachel-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Rachel first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rachel-meaning-and-history/.

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