Rachael
Rachel is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, popularized by the biblical figure Rachel, the wife of Israelite patriarch Jacob.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Rachael
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rachel is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, popularized by the biblical figure Rachel, the wife of Israelite patriarch Jacob.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Rachael
Rachael first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 12 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1990: 3,028 births, good for #111 nationwide. The 1980s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Rachaels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,982 among baby girl names with 37 births, falling sharply (-48%). In total, more than 83K Rachaels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rachael
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rachael. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Rachael
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rachael is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rachael
What does the name Rachael mean?
What is the origin of the name Rachael?
How popular is Rachael in 2026?
When was Rachael most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rachael most popular?
Is Rachael a unisex name?
What names go well with Rachael?
What are nicknames or variants of Rachael?
About the name Rachael
Rachael is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 83K births in the dataset. Rachael's peak popularity came in 1990 when it ranked #98. Use the chart and map above to compare Rachael's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1990 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.