RACHEL  

Gender: F
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: "ewe"

Popularity in 2008: #75

Delicacy, softness, and Old Testament importance made Rachel a top biblical choice from the seventies on, after being a primarily Jewish name for centuries.

Variations:
Raychelle, Shellie, Racheli, Shelly, Rashelle, Raquelle, Rachella, Rae, Raquella, Racheal, Shell, Rashell, Rachell, Rachelce, Ray, Raychel, Raquela, Raschel, Rachael, Shelley

International Variations:
Rachelle (French) Rahela (Hawaiian) Rahel (Hebrew) Raghnailt, Ráichéal (Irish Gaelic) Rechell, Rashka, Rashke (Israeli) Rachele (Italian) Rachela (Polish) Rakhila, Rahil, Rashel, Rakhil (Russian) Raquel (Spanish) Rakel (Swedish) Ruchel (Yiddish)

People who like Rachel also like:

Eleanor

Rachel is being discussed in our message boards:

• Elimination -- Girl-Girl Twins
• Build a sibling set together!
• This or That? (Girls)
• Build a Name Together
• Girl triplets!

Read Nameberry blog posts about Rachel:

• VAMPIRE BABY NAMES
• HOORAY FOR HENRY: The quirky classic that manages to stay cool
• THE UN-WEIRDLY-NAMED STARBABY BOYS
• NAMES TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
• EASTER NAMES