Rachael
Girl name · #4990 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rachael? In official American birth records, Rachael has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 26 baby girls were named Rachael, placing it at #4990 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1297, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 girls born in 2025 was named Rachael.
The 145-year story
Rachael first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 3,028 girls were named Rachael — good for #111 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rachael per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rachael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rachael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rachael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rachael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rachael is most common
State-level data for Rachael is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Rachael
Statistically, parents drawn to Rachael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rashell, Rachell, Justina, Cristal, and Rocio.
RashellRachellJustinaCristalRocioAlysiaRandiMarisela
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rachael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4987 |
| 2024 | 38 | #3892 |
| 2023 | 57 | #2936 |
| 2022 | 48 | #3313 |
| 2021 | 52 | #3112 |
| 2020 | 65 | #2597 |
| 2019 | 80 | #2272 |
| 2018 | 114 | #1787 |
| 2017 | 116 | #1792 |
| 2016 | 163 | #1420 |
| 2015 | 185 | #1297 |
| 2014 | 210 | #1171 |
| 2013 | 244 | #1021 |
| 2012 | 296 | #893 |
| 2011 | 321 | #825 |
| 2010 | 410 | #698 |
| 2009 | 491 | #615 |
| 2008 | 658 | #481 |
| 2007 | 834 | #393 |
| 2006 | 814 | #393 |
| 2005 | 797 | #392 |
| 2004 | 845 | #369 |
| 2003 | 971 | #320 |
| 2002 | 1,041 | #300 |
| 2001 | 1,304 | #244 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rachael?
In official American birth records, the name Rachael first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 12 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rachael a popular girl name?
Rachael ranked #4990 among girls in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1297.
When was the name Rachael most popular?
Rachael peaked in 1990, when 3,028 American girls received the name (ranked #111 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rachael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American girls was named Rachael. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.