The story behind Rachel
Borrowed from Late Latin Rāchēl, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”). Doublet of Raquel.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Latin entry
From Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (Rāḥēl)
Pronunciation
General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹeɪ.tʃəl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Latin; Classical-Latin: [ˈraː.kʰeːɫ]
- Latin: [ˈraː.kel]
Popularity
Rachel ranked #250 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Rachel
Rachael
A female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ráchel
From Hebrew רָחֵל (“ewe”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rafael
From Biblical Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl, literally “God has cured/healed”). Learned borrowing from Latin Raphael, borrowed from Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Biblical…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rāhel
Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rāḥīl
Borrowed from Hebrew רָחֵל (rakhél).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Raphael
Latin Raphael. From Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl, literally “God cures/has healed”). From Latin Raphael, from Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Rachel
Abdia
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew עוֹבַדְיָה (ovadya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abednego
From Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא, itself derived from a reconstructed Aramaic name meaning likely "servant of Nabu" or "servant of Nergal".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Rachel
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length