Rachel is a female given name of Hebrew origin. It means "ewe" or "female sheep". In the Old Testament of the Bible, Rachel was one of the two wives of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She is also known for her beauty and being loved by her husband more than her sister Leah. The name Rachel has been popular throughout history, with many notable figures bearing it, such as Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and conservationist, and Rachel Whiteread, a British sculptor. It is often used as a standalone name or as part of compound names like Rachelle or Rachael. The variant spelling Rchel is less common but still in use today.
The given statistics regarding the name Rachel in the United States are quite interesting. Between the years of 1982 and 1987, there were a total of ten girls named Rachel born in the country. This means that on average, approximately one girl was named Rachel each year during this five-year period.
It's important to note that while these statistics provide some insight into the popularity of the name Rachel during this time frame, they do not reflect current trends or overall usage of the name. According to Social Security data, Rachel has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular girls' names in the United States since the late 19th century.
In recent years, Rachel has seen varying degrees of popularity, with its peak being in the early 1990s when it was among the top 20 most popular girl's names. As of 2020, Rachel ranked #465 on the list of most popular baby girl names in the United States.
These statistics highlight how the usage and popularity of names can change over time and across different generations.