Rachel Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Rachel is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Rachel?
Rachel is spelled R-A-C-H-E-L. The name has 6 letters.
Rachel at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Rachel is derived from the Hebrew word for “ewe”, a female sheep.
- Origin
- Rachel is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and appears in religious texts such as the Hebrew Bible.
- Pronunciation
- RAY-chəl · 2 syllables
Rachel Popularity in 2025
Rank#250
Recorded Births1,225
- Girls usage fell 4 places to #250 and recorded 67 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Rachel Mean?
Rachel is derived from the Hebrew word for “ewe”, a female sheep.
Origin: Rachel is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and appears in religious texts such as the Hebrew Bible.
How Do You Pronounce Rachel?
PronunciationRAY-chəl
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Rachel?
- History
- The name Rachel has been used for many centuries and frequently appears in Judeo-Christian religious contexts and literature.
- Cultural notes
- In biblical contexts, the name Rachel is associated with the matriarch Rachel in the Hebrew Bible.
Rachel Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2007 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,225 | #250 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,292 | #246 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,224 | #254 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,263 | #240 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,271 | #239 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,305 | #226 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,548 | #191 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,558 | #198 |
| 2018 | Boys | 5 | #12,156 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,622 | #191 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,884 | #171 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,941 | #167 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,090 | #155 |
| 2014 | Boys | 5 | #12,108 |
| 2013 | Girls | 2,325 | #137 |
| 2012 | Girls | 2,420 | #130 |
| 2012 | Boys | 7 | #9,709 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,664 | #115 |
| 2010 | Girls | 3,024 | #99 |
| 2009 | Girls | 3,589 | #89 |
| 2009 | Boys | 5 | #12,491 |
| 2008 | Girls | 4,087 | #74 |
| 2008 | Boys | 5 | #12,553 |
| 2007 | Girls | 4,841 | #59 |
When Was Rachel Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1985 · Girls
16,360 recorded births
National rank #13
1991 · Girls
16,344 recorded births
National rank #14
1996 · Girls
16,121 recorded births
National rank #9
1995 · Girls
16,047 recorded births
National rank #12
Where Rachel Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NY | #32 | 312 |
| NJ | #51 | 135 |
| ID | #193 | 11 |
| MD | #195 | 26 |
| PA | #196 | 58 |
| MT | #208 | 5 |
| MO | #228 | 27 |
| WI | #237 | 23 |