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Name Profile

Rachel

In the Hebrew Bible, Rachel was the beloved, beautiful wife of Jacob—who met her when she tended sheep, thus “ewe” being the Hebrew name's meaning—and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin—who became the heads of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Though the name was once common among Jewish people in the Middle Ages, it gained favor in Christian communities after the Reformation in the early 16th century. It has been popular among parents of many ethnic groups ever since. There are many celebrities named Rachel—McAdams, Weisz, and Maddow, to name a few—not to mention Rachel Greene, played by Jennifer Aniston in the TV series Friends.
Hebrew Female
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Meaning

Ewe, female sheep

Popularity

163 views

Favorites

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Popularity trend

Pronunciation

RAY-chəl

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Name Story

Traits

  • Kind
  • Intelligent
  • Compassionate
  • Graceful

Compatibility

Rachel pairs well with classic and timeless names for siblings, adding a touch of elegance. As a middle name, it provides a strong and sophisticated sound. This name fits seamlessly in various cultural and stylistic settings, making it versatile and adaptable.

Kind Intelligent Compassionate Graceful

Spotlight

Famous Personalities

Notable people who share the name.

Portrait of Rachel Weisz

Rachel Weisz

Actress

Born: March 7, 1970 · London, England

Portrait of Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

TV Host

Born: April 1, 1973 · Castro Valley, California, USA

Portrait of Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward

Actress

Born: September 12, 1957 · Cornwell, England

Portrait of Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams

Actress

Born: November 17, 1978 · London, Ontario, Canada

Portrait of Rachel Dratch

Rachel Dratch

Actress and Comedian

Born: February 22, 1966 · Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

Portrait of Rachel Blanchard

Rachel Blanchard

Actress

Born: March 19, 1976 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Honor, shining light
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Regional Variations & Spellings

Alternative Spellings

  • Rachel Original form
  • Rachelle French
  • Rahel German
  • Raquel Spanish
  • Rahela Romanian
  • Arabic
  • Hebrew
  • Devanagari
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Japanese

Cultural Adaptations

  • راحيل (Rāḥīl) Arabic
  • רחל (Rakhel) Hebrew
  • रेचेल (Rechel) Devanagari
  • 拉赫尔 (Lāhè'ěr) Chinese (Mandarin)
  • ラヘル (Raheru) Japanese

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Frequently Asked Questions about Rachel

What does Rachel mean?
Ewe, female sheep
What is the origin of Rachel?
Rachel has Hebrew origins.
Is Rachel popular?
Rachel has been viewed 163 times and saved to favorites 0 times by our community.
What are similar names to Rachel?
Similar names include Nora, Kate, Nairobi, Sarah, Pablo.
How do you pronounce Rachel?
Rachel is pronounced RAY-chəl.

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