Rachel

From the Hebrew name רָחֵל (Raḥel) signifying "ewe". In the Old Testament, this is the favourite wife of Jacob. Her father Laban tricked Jacob into marrying her older sister Leah first, but allowed Jacob to marry Rachel in exchange for seven years of labour. Initially barren, she offered her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob. She eventually conceived and became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Common among Jews in the Middle Ages, it was not widely used as a Christian name in the English-speaking world until after the Protestant Reformation. Moderately popular in the first half of the 20th century, it rose steadily from the 1960s onward, peaking in the 1980s and 90s. The character Rachel Green on the American sitcom Friends (1994-2004) may have helped prolong its popularity.

Notable bearers include American conservationist Rachel Carson (1907-1964), British actress Rachel Weisz (1970-), and Canadian actress Rachel McAdams (1978-).