Rochelle
2025 SSA
About Rochelle
While Rochelle may sound like a twist on Rachel, it has a different origin entirely. Rather than having Biblical and Hebrew ties, it comes from the name of a city on the west coast of France, La Rochelle. Meaning "little rock", it rose to prominence in the 1930s, likely popularized by the actress Rochelle Hudson (though she was born Rachael).
A familiar and well-used choice throughout the second half of 20th-century, Rochelle has seen less use in recent years. It dropped from the US and UK Top 1000 in 1999 and 2007 respectively and a recent year saw it given to less than 40 girls.
Notably borne by actress Rochelle Aytes and singer and presenter Rochelle Hume, Rochelle may be out of style, but it does have potential as a route to unisex nickname Rocky.
Pronounced ro-SHEL.
As of October 2026, Rochelle ranked #4646 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #236 in 1969.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,774 | 63 | 35.3 |
| 2015 | #2,921 | 60 | 33.6 |
| 2016 | #3,406 | 47 | 26.5 |
| 2017 | #3,982 | 38 | 22 |
| 2018 | #3,728 | 41 | 24.1 |
| 2019 | #4,519 | 31 | 18.5 |
| 2020 | #4,062 | 35 | 21.7 |
| 2021 | #3,479 | 45 | 27.4 |
| 2022 | #4,559 | 31 | 18.9 |
| 2023 | #4,968 | 27 | 16.8 |
| 2024 | #4,009 | 37 | 22.8 |
| 2025 | #4,646 | 30 | 18.7 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rochelle.
- Christel
- Dina
- Angeline
- Mariam
- Marinette
- Gillie
- Monique
- Sheila
- Charlene
- Giovanna
- Desirée
- Angelique
- Adrianne
- Raquel
- Anelise
- Marcia
- Jana
- Amelia-Rose
- Justine
- Martina
Rochelle on lists
Famous Rochelles
- Rochelle Elizabeth Hudson
American actress
- Rochelle Aytes
American actress
- Rochelle Eulah Eileen Humes
English singer of S Club 8 and The Saturdays
- Rochelle "Shelley" Berkley
U.S. Congresswoman from Nevada
- Rochelle Pangilinan
Filipina singer of group SexBomb Girls
- Rochelle Rao
Indian model; Femina Miss India International in 2012
- Rochelle Alers
American romance novelist
- Rochelle Bass Owens
American poet
- Rochelle Deanna Karidis
wife of singer AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys
Rochelle in pop culture
- Rochelle Matheson
character in ABC Family's "Ravenswood"
- Rochelle Stanton
character in TV series "NCIS: Los Angeles"
- Rochelle 'Elle' Evans
character in the novel "The Kissing Booth" by Beth Reekles
- "Rochelle
Rochelle," fictional movie in TV's "Seinfeld"
- Dawn Rochelle
character in a series of young adult novels by Lurlene McDaniel
- Rochelle
character in Left 4 Dead 2
- Rochelle
character from the movie "The Craft"
- Rochelle Goyle
daughter of the gargoyles in "Monster High" show and series