Rachel

Rachel comes from the Hebrew name Rāḥēl, meaning ewe or female sheep, evoking gentleness and fertility. In the Hebrew Bible, Rachel is the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin, making her one of the four matriarchs of the Israelite people. The name spread widely through Jewish, Christian, and later Islamic traditions, and its popularity in English-speaking countries surged particularly from the 17th century onward. Related forms include the French Rachelle, the Spanish and Italian Raquel, and the diminutive Rae.