Rachel
r(a)-chel
Popularity:533
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:ewe or female sheep
Rachel is a lovely feminine name meanding "ewe" or "female sheep." In the Hebrew Bible, Rachel was the beloved, beautiful wife of Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin—who became the heads of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Rachel and Jacob met when she was tending to a flock of sheep, hence the meaning of this historic name. Since the Reformation in the early 16th century, it has become a popular choice from people of all religions. There are also 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.
Sources
Abarim Publications Rachel meaning
Online Etymology Dictionary Rachel
Dictionary of American Family Names by Patrick Hanks
Behind the Name Rachel
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
Not sure you have the perfect name? Search to add more baby names to your My Favorites list.
Was this page helpful?
Yes
No
Article saved.Go to My Saved Articles
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List