Rachael
A female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.
Every Rachael since 1880 — 82,650 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rachael
Rachael is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #5,066 in 2025 with 26 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 82,650 American babies have been named Rachael. Its peak came in 1990, when 3,035 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rachael stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rachael year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #5,066 | — | — |
| 2024 | 38 | #3,947 | — | — |
| 2023 | 57 | #2,967 | — | — |
| 2022 | 48 | #3,357 | — | — |
| 2021 | 52 | #3,149 | — | — |
| 2020 | 65 | #2,623 | — | — |
| 2019 | 80 | #2,283 | — | — |
| 2018 | 114 | #1,795 | — | — |
| 2017 | 116 | #1,798 | — | — |
| 2016 | 163 | #1,424 | — | — |
| 2015 | 185 | #1,300 | — | — |
| 2014 | 210 | #1,172 | — | — |
| 2013 | 244 | #1,024 | — | — |
| 2012 | 296 | #895 | — | — |
| 2011 | 321 | #826 | — | — |
| 2010 | 410 | #698 | — | — |
| 2009 | 491 | #616 | — | — |
| 2008 | 658 | #481 | — | — |
| 2007 | 834 | #393 | — | — |
| 2006 | 814 | #393 | — | — |
| 2005 | 797 | #392 | — | — |
| 2004 | 845 | #369 | 6 | #11,006 |
| 2003 | 971 | #320 | — | — |
| 2002 | 1,041 | #300 | — | — |
| 2001 | 1,304 | #244 | — | — |
| 2000 | 1,389 | #228 | — | — |
| 1995 | 2,606 | #120 | — | — |
| 1990 | 3,028 | #111 | 7 | #6,982 |
| 1985 | 2,761 | #100 | 7 | #5,601 |
| 1980 | 2,047 | #142 | 12 | #3,566 |
| 1975 | 1,376 | #185 | 7 | #4,665 |
| 1970 | 886 | #313 | — | — |
| 1965 | 217 | #668 | — | — |
| 1960 | 150 | #850 | — | — |
| 1955 | 115 | #920 | — | — |
| 1950 | 88 | #969 | — | — |
| 1945 | 55 | #1,057 | — | — |
| 1940 | 67 | #875 | — | — |
| 1935 | 50 | #981 | — | — |
| 1930 | 65 | #907 | — | — |
| 1925 | 83 | #818 | — | — |
| 1920 | 119 | #664 | — | — |
| 1915 | 96 | #672 | — | — |
| 1910 | 45 | #634 | — | — |
| 1905 | 23 | #774 | — | — |
| 1900 | 44 | #513 | — | — |
| 1895 | 26 | #603 | — | — |
| 1890 | 8 | #1,080 | — | — |
| 1885 | 8 | #834 | — | — |
| 1880 | 12 | #514 | — | — |
Famous people named Rachael
- Rachael Harris Actor · b. 1968
- Rachael Leigh Cook Actor · b. 1979
- Rachael Taylor Actor · b. 1984
- Rachael Yamagata Musician · b. 1977
- Rachael Carpani Actor · b. 1980
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rachael mean?
A female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.
How popular is the name Rachael in 2025?
Rachael ranked #5,066 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 26 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rachael?
82,650 babies have been named Rachael in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rachael most popular?
Rachael peaked in 1990, when 3,035 newborns received the name.
Is Rachael a boy or girl name?
Rachael is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rachael rising or falling?
Rachael is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rachael?
Well-known people named Rachael include Rachael Harris (actor), Rachael Leigh Cook (actor), Rachael Taylor (actor).