Rachel is a female given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "rachel", which means "ewe" or "female sheep". In the Bible, Rachel was one of the wives of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The name Rachel has been popular throughout history, particularly in Jewish communities. It gained further popularity in English-speaking countries during the 19th century, likely due to the influence of British literature. Today, it remains a popular choice for girls' names around the world.
In terms of its spelling, Rachel is typically spelled with an 'h', although there are variations such as Rachael or Raquel that do not include this letter. The name can also be shortened to Rae or Ray, and common nicknames include Rocky or Rache.
Overall, Rachel is a timeless and elegant name with a rich history and meaningful origin. It has been embraced by many cultures throughout the centuries and continues to be beloved today.
"Over the span of a century (1910-2023), the name Racheal experienced significant fluctuations in popularity. The highest points were reached between 1967 and 1987, with peaks of 94 births in 1969 and 388 births in 1985. However, since the late 1990s, there's been a steady decline, with only 5 births recorded in 2020 and 6 in 2023."