Rachel

#250 for girls in 2025, 1,225 births · Last seen for boys in 2018 at #12,156
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1996 · 16,121 births
Debut · girls
166 births
In top 100 · girls
43 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
573,957
since 1880

Rachel over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201981peak #9, 1996girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2501,225—
2024#2461,292—
2023#2541,224—
2022#2401,263—
2021#2391,271—
2020#2261,305—
2019#1911,548—
2018#1981,558#12,1565
2017#1911,622—
2016#1711,884—
2015#1671,941—
2014#1552,090#12,1085
2013#1372,325—
2012#1302,420#9,7097
2011#1152,664—
2010#993,024—
2009#893,589#12,4915
2008#744,087#12,5535
2007#594,841#9,7887
2006#485,551#9,5857
2005#386,226#5,87513
2004#346,923#2,95334
2003#287,997#5,27114
2002#248,944#4,91915
2001#249,556#7,5368
2000#2110,687#5,58812
1999#1911,632#4,16217
1998#1512,209#3,84918
1997#1313,798#3,16023
1996#916,121#2,91125
1995#1216,047#2,62628
1994#1315,492#2,84725
1993#1415,974#2,69726
1992#1615,840#2,67026
1991#1416,344#2,22732
1990#1615,710#1,90940
1989#1815,357#993106
1988#1915,348#1,30762
1987#1715,646#1,21863
1986#1515,455#1,29956
1985#1316,360#1,05077
1984#1515,839#97683
1983#2014,591#1,44843
1982#2113,871#1,14064
1981#2212,590#1,30950
1980#2311,618#1,21457
1979#2710,230#1,46441
1978#259,802#1,50838
1977#268,976#1,49038
1976#238,453#1,78128
1975#268,225#2,00123
1974#367,399#1,47135
1973#426,103#1,98221
1972#406,417#2,41815
1971#546,115#1,52632
1970#586,029#1,98920
1969#695,242#1,97718
1968#923,727#2,57611
1967#1053,312#2,35212
1966#1542,277#2,9868
1965#1752,011#2,36612
1964#1732,261#3,6016
1963#1792,178#4,0485
1962#1941,941#3,3057
1961#1862,054#3,3567
1960#1981,792—
1959#2011,744#3,2907
1958#2011,663#3,5596
1957#1941,821#3,2577
1956#1971,672#2,7989
1955#1851,802#2,21913
1954#1821,805#3,8275
1953#1751,780#2,7099
1952#1851,599#2,37611
1951#2021,435#3,0667
1950#1881,454—
1949#1911,437#3,2986
1948#1951,388—
1947#1901,447—
1946#1951,234—
1945#1741,207#2,7437
1944#1711,250—
1943#1701,371#2,7328
1942#1631,427#2,38610
1941#1591,384#1,68517
1940#1661,264#2,8717
1939#1601,345#2,4499
1938#1651,279#2,4799
1937#1631,229#2,08812
1936#1631,208#1,63917
1935#1641,198#2,24611
1934#1631,181#2,02213
1933#1611,142#2,36810
1932#1561,254#2,31311
1931#1611,171—
1930#1641,261#3,5926
1929#1671,214#2,45211
1928#1771,180#3,0768
1927#1691,286#3,4517
1926#1641,389#3,1398
1925#1651,439#3,1558
1924#1571,600—
1923#1601,483#4,2395
1922#1541,541#2,80110
1921#1521,583#2,80410
1920#1561,484#3,2088
1919#1491,488#3,1158
1918#1481,542#3,7286
1917#1571,339#3,9815
1916#1531,328#2,9268
1915#1561,205#3,0827
1914#151975#3,2645
1913#145827—
1912#151703—
1911#150537—
1910#150538#1,5895
1909#154462—
1908#159425—
1907#154420—
1906#158366—
1905#143421—
1904#152356—
1903#142383—
1902#141393—
1901#135369—
1900#153379#1,3105
1899#145324#1,0515
1898#138367—
1897#154297—
1896#137348—
1895#130351—
1894#136317—
1893#134321—
1892#122369—
1891#133267—
1890#124318—
1889#134266—
1888#129281—
1887#126226—
1886#130213—
1885#122212—
1884#114230—
1883#121174—
1882#109203—
1881#113157—
1880#109166—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Rachel was already there! It came in at #109, and was given to 166 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1887, when fewer than 240 girls a year got the name.

Where Rachel is popular in 1981

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #16 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 73 girlsAKMaine: #16 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 90 girlsMEVermont: #25 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 102 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #27 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 111 girlsNHWashington: #13 for girls · 329 births · 1 in 84 girlsWAIdaho: #26 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 107 girlsIDMontana: #15 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 79 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #14 for girls · 66 births · 1 in 74 girlsNDMinnesota: #23 for girls · 329 births · 1 in 88 girlsMNIllinois: #21 for girls · 601 births · 1 in 125 girlsILWisconsin: #19 for girls · 352 births · 1 in 89 girlsWIMichigan: #18 for girls · 617 births · 1 in 95 girlsMINew York: #23 for girls · 806 births · 1 in 126 girlsNYMassachusetts: #24 for girls · 282 births · 1 in 112 girlsMARhode Island: #42 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 153 girlsRIOregon: #21 for girls · 176 births · 1 in 96 girlsORNevada: #17 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 80 girlsNVWyoming: #20 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 76 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #31 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 125 girlsSDIowa: #22 for girls · 197 births · 1 in 99 girlsIAIndiana: #13 for girls · 415 births · 1 in 84 girlsINOhio: #17 for girls · 760 births · 1 in 95 girlsOHPennsylvania: #25 for girls · 622 births · 1 in 111 girlsPANew Jersey: #30 for girls · 251 births · 1 in 148 girlsNJConnecticut: #26 for girls · 125 births · 1 in 123 girlsCTCalifornia: #29 for girls · 1,112 births · 1 in 163 girlsCAUtah: #21 for girls · 162 births · 1 in 100 girlsUTColorado: #24 for girls · 183 births · 1 in 113 girlsCONebraska: #22 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 105 girlsNEMissouri: #21 for girls · 339 births · 1 in 95 girlsMOKentucky: #28 for girls · 193 births · 1 in 124 girlsKYWest Virginia: #25 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 119 girlsWVVirginia: #26 for girls · 256 births · 1 in 117 girlsVAMaryland: #27 for girls · 182 births · 1 in 115 girlsMDDelaware: #34 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 111 girlsDEArizona: #24 for girls · 159 births · 1 in 126 girlsAZNew Mexico: #14 for girls · 102 births · 1 in 91 girlsNMKansas: #25 for girls · 153 births · 1 in 101 girlsKSArkansas: #18 for girls · 157 births · 1 in 81 girlsARTennessee: #18 for girls · 347 births · 1 in 80 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #46 for girls · 154 births · 1 in 215 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #44 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 204 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #20 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 103 girlsDCOklahoma: #17 for girls · 211 births · 1 in 95 girlsOKLouisiana: #20 for girls · 260 births · 1 in 118 girlsLAMississippi: #27 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 152 girlsMSAlabama: #23 for girls · 175 births · 1 in 130 girlsALGeorgia: #26 for girls · 234 births · 1 in 149 girlsGAHawaii: #36 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 180 girlsHITexas: #25 for girls · 919 births · 1 in 135 girlsTXFlorida: #25 for girls · 390 births · 1 in 139 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Washington#13 · 1 in 84
  2. Indiana#13 · 1 in 84
  3. North Dakota#14 · 1 in 74
  4. New Mexico#14 · 1 in 91
  5. Montana#15 · 1 in 79

Best ever in a state: #3 in Hawaii, 1995.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Indiana#134151 in 84
Washington#133291 in 84
New Mexico#141021 in 91
North Dakota#14661 in 74
Montana#15601 in 79
Alaska#16401 in 73
Maine#16701 in 90
Nevada#17551 in 80
Ohio#177601 in 95
Oklahoma#172111 in 95
Arkansas#181571 in 81
Michigan#186171 in 95
Tennessee#183471 in 80
Wisconsin#193521 in 89
District of Columbia#20561 in 103
Louisiana#202601 in 118
Wyoming#20431 in 76
Illinois#216011 in 125
Missouri#213391 in 95
Oregon#211761 in 96
Utah#211621 in 100
Iowa#221971 in 99
Nebraska#221041 in 105
Alabama#231751 in 130
Minnesota#233291 in 88
New York#238061 in 126
Arizona#241591 in 126
Colorado#241831 in 113
Massachusetts#242821 in 112
Florida#253901 in 139
Kansas#251531 in 101
Pennsylvania#256221 in 111
Texas#259191 in 135
Vermont#25261 in 102
West Virginia#25971 in 119
Connecticut#261251 in 123
Georgia#262341 in 149
Idaho#26641 in 107
Virginia#262561 in 117
Maryland#271821 in 115
Mississippi#271041 in 152
New Hampshire#27481 in 111
Kentucky#281931 in 124
California#291,1121 in 163
New Jersey#302511 in 148
South Dakota#31361 in 125
Delaware#34271 in 111
Hawaii#36271 in 180
Rhode Island#42291 in 153
South Carolina#44881 in 204
North Carolina#461541 in 215

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Rachel
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 4 spots since 2024 (#246 → #250)
  • 24 spots since 2020 (#226 → #250)
  • 83 spots since 2015 (#167 → #250)
  • Biggest jump: 49 spots in 1967 (#154 → #105)
  • Biggest drop: 35 spots in 2020 (#191 → #226)
Rise & fade · girls
116 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1996 at #9 (16,121 births)
  • Births halved by 2003, 7 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 1 yr
  • Top 10: 1 yr · 1996
  • Top 100: 43 yrs · run 1968–2010
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 105
  • Highest: 1 in 105 girls born in 1985 were named Rachel (0.95%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,312 girls born in 2025 (0.08%)
  • Its best rank, #9 in 1996, was only 1 in 109 (0.92%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 26.0% of all girls named Rachel (149,167) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,128#109 (1882)#121
1890s3,279#122 (1892)#135
1900s3,974#135 (1901)#149
1910s10,482#145 (1913)#151
1920s14,199#152 (1921)#162
1930s12,268#156 (1932)#162
1940s13,409#159 (1941)#177
1950s16,775#175 (1953)#191
1960s26,795#69 (1969)#153
1970s77,749#23 (1976)#36
1980s146,675#13 (1985)#18
1990s149,167#9 (1996)#14
2000s68,401#21 (2000)#44
2010s21,076#99 (2010)#155
2020s7,580#226 (2020)#243

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Rachel in 1981

girls
#22
12,590 births · 1 in 132 girls
boys
#1,309
50 births · 1 in 35,824 boys

Top girls' names in 1981

  1. #1Jennifer57,046
  2. #2Jessica42,531
  3. #3Amanda34,372
  4. #4Sarah28,175
  5. #5Melissa28,005
  6. #6Amy20,345
  7. #7Nicole20,310
  8. #8Stephanie20,212
  9. #9Elizabeth20,168
  10. #10Heather17,946
  11. #22Rachel12,590

Top boys' names in 1981

  1. #1Michael68,750
  2. #2Christopher50,221
  3. #3Matthew43,330
  4. #4Jason41,927
  5. #5David40,629
  6. #6Joshua39,024
  7. #7James38,283
  8. #8John34,868
  9. #9Robert34,395
  10. #10Daniel30,985
  11. #1,309Rachel50
More about 1981

girls

1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 132 of them was named Rachel, which outranked 99.8% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rachel
  1. #19Erin13,853
  2. #20Amber13,814
  3. #21Laura13,292
  4. #22Rachel12,590
  5. #23Kelly11,873
  6. #24Andrea11,686
  7. #25April11,406
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,850Tashina#4,743 → #893
  2. ↑ 2,742Krystle#3,215 → #473
  3. ↑ 1,800Tierra#2,342 → #542
  4. ↑ 1,398Martine#2,189 → #791
  5. ↑ 999Nereida#1,981 → #982
Fallers
  1. ↓ 764Kylene#990 → #1,754
  2. ↓ 607Renada#708 → #1,315
  3. ↓ 560Ashanti#822 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 399Renata#336 → #735
  5. ↓ 395Tracee#959 → #1,354

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 35,824 of them was named Rachel, which outranked 82.0% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rachel
  1. #1,294Rueben51
  2. #1,294Syed51
  3. #1,294Tavis51
  4. #1,309Rachel50
  5. #1,309Abner50
  6. #1,309Antwaun50
  7. #1,309Cain50
  8. #1,334Abelardo49
  9. #1,334Amado49
  10. #1,334Barron49

Tied with 24 names at #1,309; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,321Marchello#2,162 → #841
  2. ↑ 1,104Skylar#2,058 → #954
  3. ↑ 816Kellen#1,432 → #616
  4. ↑ 499Marcello#1,291 → #792
  5. ↑ 456Tyrel#1,089 → #633
Fallers
  1. ↓ 306Kenyatta#871 → #1,177
  2. ↓ 284Seneca#718 → #1,002
  3. ↓ 247Kimberly#989 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 216Chadd#927 → #1,143
  5. ↓ 214Levar#911 → #1,125

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1981 →