Rachel - Names
Meaning of the name Rachel
Gender:
Female
Meaning:
ewe (from Hebrew)
History & etymology:
The name Rachel has been borrowed into English from Hebrew: Raḥel, meaning ewe. Rachel had been a popular given name among Jews since the Middle Ages and made its way to the English-speaking countries after the Protestant Reformation. In recent years the name’s popularity has been on a decline in England and Wales.
The patron of the name is the Biblical Rachel. She was the favourite wife of Jacob. Jacob fell in love at first sight with her but he was tricked to marry Rachel's elder sister Leah, disguised in a veil. Desperate, Jacob worked hard in order to afford a second wife and married Rachel seven years later. Jacob’s preference for Rachel was obvious. To compensate for such discrimination, God blessed Leah with many children while Rachel seemed infertile. Only when Leah was pregnant with her last child did Rachel finally manage to conceive.
Rachel’s feast day is celebrated on 1st November in the Roman Catholich Church and on Sunday before Christmas in the Orthodox Church.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Rachael, Racheal, Rachelle, Rachyl, Raschelle
Diminutives: Rae, Raelyn
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Finland
17th December: Raakel
France:
15th January: Rachel
Greece
13th December: Rachel
Italy
30th September: Rachele
Poland
30th September: Rachela
Sweden
30th September: Rakel
Ukraine
30th April: Rachel
USA
23rd January: Rachel, Rachael, Rachelle, Rae
Famous people named Rachel:
Rachel Allen (1972-) - Irish celebrity chef
Rachel Bilson (1981-) - American actress
Rachel Bluwstein (1890 - 1931) - Israeli poet
Rachel Crow (1998-) - American actress and singer
Rachel DeMita (1990) - American TV show host
Rachel Felix (1821 - 1858) - French actress
Rachel Fox (1996-) - American actress and singer
Rachel Harris (1979-) - Australian swimmer
Rachel Hunter (1969-) - New Zealand supermodel
Rachel Nichols (1980-) - American actress
Rachel Platten (1981-) - American singer
Rachel Portman (1960-) -British composer
Rachel Rath (1976-) - Irish actress
Rachel Renee Russel (1945-) - American children’s book writer
Rachel Riley (1986) - British TV show host
Rachel Smith (1985-) - Miss USA 2007
Rachel Sweet (1962-) - American singer and actress
Rachel True (1968-) - American actress
Rachel Walker (1979-) - English field hockey player
Rachel Weisz (1970-) - British-American actress
Rachel Zoe (1971-) - American fashion designer
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015)
USA: 167th
England and Wales: 272nd
Canada: 75th
Ireland: 43rd
Northern Ireland: 77th
Scotland: 80th
France: 158th
Lucky colors: white, ivory
Lucky stone: Diamond, opal
Ruling planet: Venus
Characteristics: generous, hearty, helpful, principled, rational, selfless, wise