Rachelle is of French origin, derived from the Hebrew name Rachel, meaning 'ewe' or 'sheep'. It was popularized by the heroine Rachel in Herman Melville's 1852 novel Pierre; or, The Ambiguities. The name gained further recognition in the mid-20th century due to its use by American actress and singer Debbie Reynolds.
Rachelle saw a peak in popularity with 7 births in 1972, but consistently remained around the average of 5 births annually between 1969 and 1986, totaling 37 births overall during this period.