Holding steady, #7,885 for girls today.
Popularity of Rahel since 1971
Babies named Rahel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 71 |
| 1990s | 124 |
| 2000s | 115 |
| 2010s | 136 |
| 2020s | 54 |
Meaning & origin
Rahel is the German and Scandinavian spelling of the biblical name Rachel, meaning 'ewe.' It first appeared in U.S. records in 1971 and reached its peak popularity in 1996. The name has remained stable in usage, never breaking into the top tier but maintaining a steady presence. Rahel is a recognizable yet distinctive alternative to the more common Rachel, especially in families with German or Scandinavian heritage.
Rahel is the German, Scandinavian, and Swiss spelling of Rachel, a Hebrew name meaning 'ewe' or 'female sheep' found in the Old Testament as the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The name has been used in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions for centuries, though in English-speaking countries the Rachel form is far more common.
“Rahel” around the world
Where Rahel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rae, Rah, Rahli
Sibling names for Rahel
Names that share Rahel's style, for a brother or sister.
