Rachel (given name)

Summary

Rachel (Hebrew: רָחֵל, Modern: Raḥel, Tiberian: Rāḫēl, Rāḥēl), meaning "ewe",[1][2] is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, popularized by the biblical figure Rachel, the wife of Israelite patriarch Jacob.

Rachel
Dante's Vision of Rachel and Leah, the Biblical Rachel and Leah by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1855)
PronunciationEnglish: /ˈrəl/ RAY-chəl
French: [ʁaʃɛl]
German: [ˈʁaxl̩] (Germany) or [ˈraxl̩] (Austria/Switzerland)
Dutch: [ˈrɑxəl]
GenderFemale
Origin
Word/nameHebrew
Meaning"ewe", "one with purity"
Other names
Nickname(s)Rae, Rach
Related namesRachael, Rae, Rahel, Raquel

History of usage edit

Ashkenazi Jewish matronymic surnames Rokhlin (variants: Rochlin, Rohlin), Raskin, Raskine, Rashkin, Rashkind are derived from variants of the name. The Jewish version of the surname Ruskin is an Americanized form of Raskin.[3]

Sixteenth century baptismal records from England show that Rachel was first used by English Christians in the mid-1500s, becoming popular during the Protestant Reformation along with other names from the Bible.[4]

The name has been among the five hundred most commonly used names in recent years for newborn girls in France, Ireland, Israel, United Kingdom and the United States.[5][6] [7] [8] [9]

Women named Rachel edit

Notable people with the name include:

Women named Rachael edit

Women named Rachelle edit

Dutch trauma informed coach born in the UK

Women named Rachele edit

Women named Rakel or Raakel edit

Fictional characters named Rachel (or variants thereof) edit

Variant names edit

  • Rachey, Rahel, Rocha, Rochel, Rochie, Rochale, Rochele, Rochlin, Recha, Reche, Reichil, Rela, Releh, Relin, Reiyelina, Rekel, Rikel, Rikla, Rikle, Rasha, Rashe, Rashi, Rashel, Rachelle, Rashil, Rashka, Rashke[10]
  • Rashka, Rashke, Slavic-language-influences Ashkenazi Jewish Yiddish-language, diminutive
  • Recha, a diminutive; an example is Rachel (Recha), the daughter of the protagonist of the 1779 play Nathan the Wise.[11]

In various languages edit

See also edit

  • All pages with titles beginning with Rachel
  • Raquel (includes Racquel)
  • Rokhlin (includes Rochlin)

References edit

  1. ^ "Strong's Hebrew: 7353. רָחֵל (rachel) – ewe". Biblehub.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  2. ^ "Leah and Rachel (No. 295)". Ccg.org. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  3. ^ Hanks, Patrick (2003-05-08). Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4.
  4. ^ Redmonds, George, Christian Names in Local and Family History, Dundurn Press, 2004, ISBN 1-55002-507-4 p. 41
  5. ^ "Outil interactif sur les prénoms".
  6. ^ "Introduction - CSO - Central Statistics Office".
  7. ^ "England and Wales Baby Names".
  8. ^ "Popular Baby Names".
  9. ^ "101 Most Popular Jewish Girls Names in Israel in 2019 - B&F: Jewish Genealogy and More". 9 November 2020.
  10. ^ Rabbi Shmuel Gorr, Jewish Personal Names: Their Origin, Derivation, and Diminutive Forms, 1992, ISBN 0962637327 p. 75 (also an online list by the author, based on the book)
  11. ^ Frederick Quinn, The Sum of All Heresies: The Image of Islam in Western Thought, p. 85
  12. ^ Lansky, Bruce, 100,000+ Baby Names: The most helpful, complete, & up-to-date name book Da Capo Lifelong Books; Revised edition (July 9, 2019), ISBN 978-0-306-922985
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