Rachel

“Ewe” — Hebrew origin

Girl's name · #250 in the US (2025) · 80s

Rachel reached its best rank, #9, in 1996 and ranked #250 in 2025. About 574,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. In New York and New Jersey it runs about 4× its national rate and ranks #35 in New York. Rachel's short forms are Ray and Rae.

Around the world: about 1 in 880 girls in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 1,000 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 1,200 girls in Belgium (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 40 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Rachels

Rachel Carson — American marine biologist and conservationist (1907–1964)
Rachel McAdams — Canadian actress (born 1978)
Rachel Weisz — British actress (born 1970)
Rachel Maddow — American television news host and political commentator
Rachel Zegler — American actress (born 2001)

In stories & tradition

Rachel — Genesis 29 · Genesis 30
Rachel Green — television character
Rachel Berry — Glee · Glee: The 3D Concert Movie

What Rachels become

Among 2,529 notable people named Rachel:

Entertainers appear 1.55× more often than among typical names — e.g. Rachel McAdams, Canadian actress (born 1978).

Similar names: Raquel · Sara · Raven · Danielle · Rebecca · Molly

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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