Rachel

Rachel comes from the Hebrew name Rāḥēl, meaning ewe, a female sheep, derived from a Semitic root connected to the idea of a gentle or tender creature. 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 secular communities following biblical influence. Common variants and cognates include Rahel, Rachael, and the Latinate Rachele.