| Elizabeth | Rachel | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Ewe |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ih-LIZ-uh-beth | RAY-chul |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1990 (20,750) | 1985 (16,360) |
| In 2025 | 6,760 | 1,225 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Elizabeth | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 41,893 | 7,580 |
| 2010s | 94,103 | 21,076 |
| 2000s | 133,568 | 68,401 |
| 1990s | 172,693 | 149,167 |
| 1980s | 198,972 | 146,675 |
| 1970s | 142,845 | 77,749 |
| 1960s | 168,920 | 26,795 |
| 1950s | 165,656 | 16,775 |
| 1940s | 116,551 | 13,409 |
| 1930s | 96,480 | 12,268 |
| 1920s | 139,672 | 14,199 |
| 1910s | 116,811 | 10,482 |
| 1900s | 41,708 | 3,974 |
| 1890s | 33,879 | 3,279 |
| 1880s | 25,006 | 2,128 |
Elizabeth is from the Hebrew Elisheva, “God is my oath.” It has been borne by saints and queens across a thousand years.
Rachel is Hebrew for “ewe,” a female sheep taken as a symbol of gentleness. In the Bible she is the beloved wife of Jacob and a matriarch of Israel.
Elizabeth is more popular than Rachel today: about 6,760 US babies were given the name Elizabeth in 2025, compared with 1,225 named Rachel.
Elizabeth means God is my oath (Hebrew origin), while Rachel means Ewe (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Elizabeth first appears in 1880 and Rachel in 1880, so Elizabeth has the longer recorded history.