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At a Glance: Name: Rachel – Meaning: ewe (female sheep) – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: RAY-chul
Rachel is a Hebrew girl's name, pronounced RAY-chul (IPA /ˈreɪtʃəl/), rooted in a plain, literal word: ewe, or female sheep. Some lists dress this up as 'purity,' but that's an embellishment layered on afterward — the Hebrew simply names the animal. It's a timeless, classic name.
Meaning & Origin of Rachel
Meaning: Ewe (female sheep).
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Some listicles expand this to 'ewe, one with purity' or romanticize it as a symbol of purity/innocence Actually: The 'purity' association is an embellishment not supported by the Hebrew etymology, which simply denotes a female sheep (ewe).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Rachel
Phonetic: RAY-chul IPA: /ˈreɪtʃəl/
Popularity of Rachel
Rachel reached its high point in 1996, ranking #9 nationally with 16,120 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #247, with 1,285 babies — a steady presence across SSA records from 1880 through 2024, just well off its 1990s peak.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
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Free printable nursery art for Rachel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Rachel mean?
Ewe (female sheep). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rachel)
How do you pronounce Rachel?
Rachel is pronounced RAY-chul (IPA: /ˈreɪtʃəl/).
Is Rachel a popular name right now?
Rachel peaked at #9 in 1996 and is ranked #247 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Rachel? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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