Rachel is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It means "ewe" or "female sheep". The name Rachel was the name of one of the wives of Jacob in the Old Testament of the Bible, who was also the mother of two of the twelve tribes of Israel, Joseph and Benjamin.
The name Rachel has been used throughout history by various notable figures. For example, Rachel was the name of a 13th-century queen consort of France, who was married to King Louis IX. Another famous Rachel was Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist and conservationist whose groundbreaking book "Silent Spring" helped launch the environmental movement in the United States.
The name Rachel has also been popular throughout history in various cultures. In the Middle Ages, it was a common name for Jewish women. In the 19th century, it became popular among English-speaking Christians due to its biblical association. Today, Rachel remains a popular given name worldwide.
Overall, the name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It has been used throughout history by various notable figures and remains a popular given name today.
The name Rachel has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past few decades, with a total of 236 babies given this name between 1968 and 2023.
The number of births per year has varied significantly over time. The earliest years on record show that there were only 6 births each year from 1968 to 1975, with a brief spike to 7 births in 1982 before declining again to 5 or 6 births annually until 1994.
However, since the mid-1990s, there has been a steady increase in the number of babies named Rachel each year. The highest recorded year was 2021, with a total of 19 births. This trend continues into recent years, with 12 births each in 2019 and 2020, and 13 births in 2017.
It's interesting to note that the name Rachel has seen a resurgence in popularity recently, with the most recent data showing that there were still 11 births in 2022 and 10 births so far in 2023. This suggests that Rachel remains a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet timeless name for their daughters.