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