Rachael
Rachael was the 5066th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 26 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 98th; the most babies were born in 1990 (3,028). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,766 places. More babies were named Rachael in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Rachel) ewe · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #5,066 girls, down 2,443 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 26girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19903,028 babies
- Total since 1880
- 82,650babies recorded
What does the name Rachael mean?
Rachael is a spelling of Rachel, pronounced the same way, so it shares Rachel's meaning and origin.
Rachel comes from Hebrew Rachel, 'ewe', the name of Jacob's beloved wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin in Genesis; DMNES, Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree. DMNES notes it was rare before the 16th century and came into use in England, France and the Netherlands with the Reformation, when Protestants favored Old Testament names. Raquel is the Spanish and Portuguese form, and Rae is a pet form.
רָחֵל (Biblical Hebrew, “Rachel, ewe”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Raquel, Rachael, Rae, Rochelle, Rahel.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean an animal.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Rachel', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 29:6, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Rachel', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Rachel (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Rachael popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 181 since 1968.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,066 | 26 |
| 2020 | #2,623 | 65 |
| 2010 | #698 | 410 |
| 2000 | #228 | 1,389 |
| 1990 | #111 | 3,028 |
| 1980 | #142 | 2,047 |
| 1970 | #313 | 886 |
| 1960 | #850 | 150 |
| 1950 | #969 | 88 |
| 1940 | #875 | 67 |
| 1930 | #907 | 65 |
| 1920 | #664 | 119 |
| 1910 | #634 | 45 |
| 1900 | #513 | 44 |
| 1890 | #1,080 | 8 |
| 1880 | #514 | 12 |
How popular is Rachael, counting every spelling?
Rachael is a spelling of Rachel, a name family that ranked #266 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,066 for Rachael on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,281 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rachel | 1,225 | #250 | 6,275 |
| Rachael | 26 | #5,066 | 221 |
| Rachell | 30 | #4,637 | 143 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Rachael?
26 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Rachael (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Rachael born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 323 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Rachael.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Rachael?
About 76,500 people born in the US named Rachael are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 30 and 45. That makes Rachael mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Rachael by state
How common Rachael was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 47 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Rachael: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Rachael, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Rachael
What does Rachael mean?
Rachael is a spelling of Rachel, which means “ewe” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Rachael?
Rachael was the 5066th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 26 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 98th; the most babies were born in 1990 (3,028). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,766 places. More babies were named Rachael in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Rachael a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Rachael in the US.
Where is Rachael most popular?
In 2021–2025, Rachael was most common in Pennsylvania (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and California.