Rachel (English)

Where does "Rachel" come from?

The name Rachel originates from the Biblical Hebrew word 'rāḫēl,' which literally means 'ewe.' It traveled from Hebrew into Ancient Greek as Ῥαχήλ, eventually passing through Late Latin before being adopted into English. This humble term for a female sheep became a widely recognized given name, serving as a permanent namesake for individuals and even small towns in the United States.

Full etymology tree

• Rachel (English), 'Younger daughter of Laban, sister to Leah, and second wife of Jacob.'
  • inherited Rāchēl (Latin), 'a female given name from Hebrew'
    • borrowed Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl) (Ancient Greek), 'Rachel'
      • borrowed רָחֵל (rāḫēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
        • inherited *raḫil- (Proto-Semitic)

Direct ancestors

• Rachel (Latin)
• Ῥαχήλ (Ancient Greek)
• Raquel (English)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris