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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rachel

66 replies

MissisBee · 20/11/2016 12:55

DH and I have only had one name conversation so far (I'm only 9 weeks).

Rachel was his first suggestion for a girl. It's a name that would never had occurred to me, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.

I currently don't know any Rachels. Any I have known would be about my own age but it doesn't have the feel of an 80s name to me like, say, Joanne or Julie.
I do have a penchant for biblical names generally, although I read today that it means "ewe" in Hebrew!!

So, do you like it?
Is it dated?
Does it make you think of Friends?

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Original poster
MissisBee · 20/11/2016 20:30

It also makes me think of Mrs Rachel Lynde, a great character in my favourite book

OP posts:
Sophronia · 20/11/2016 20:28

It's lovely. A currently underused classic!

weegiemum · 20/11/2016 20:27

My dd2 is Rachel, she'll be 13 next week. Theres another in her year group at school, and we know a 91 year old, 10 year old and a 2 year old Rachel as well. Its a great name - in our case it was given to honour DH's Grandma, who died 3 weeks before our Rachel was born. Obviously, I think its a great name!!

BackforGood · 20/11/2016 20:19

Lovely name. I wanted it for mine, but dh wan't keen.

As others have said, classic, but doesn't 'date' to a particular age group. Really nice name Smile

winkywinkola · 20/11/2016 20:17

Awesome name.

Rachel is better than Rachael imo.

I wish I'd used it for my dd.

SaltyBitch · 20/11/2016 20:17

It does make me think of Friends, but I am of that age.

Original poster
MissisBee · 20/11/2016 20:16

Good to have a positive consensus. I prefer Rachel to Rachael, I think because there was a Rachael at school who wasn't very nice. Isn't it funny how your experiences can influence things like this.

OP posts:
HearTheThunderRoar · 20/11/2016 19:52

Ooh I like it, my DD is almost 18 and it was on the list when I was pregnant with her.

RVPisnomore · 20/11/2016 18:37

Sorry I really dislike it, very dull and old fashioned.

Bertucci · 20/11/2016 18:20

I went to school with several Rachels, but unlike Sarah, Clare, Alison (& other names that were very common), I don't think it has dated. It's a lovely name.

Destinysdaughter · 20/11/2016 18:14

Aw this thread is making me very happy! 😀

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/11/2016 18:11

Miri - I have a couple of Rachel and Rebecca friends with Rachel and Rebecca siblings. I think the names 'go' together.

MiriAmmerman · 20/11/2016 18:08

It's funny that Piehunter mentioned the Rachel / Rebecca thing - I'm a Rebecca, and often get called Rachel by mistake.

I like Rachel, OP - having grown up with a Biblical name in the same vein, I can say they serve well at all ages!

hels71 · 20/11/2016 17:39

My sister is a Rachael. I like the name.

topaz22 · 20/11/2016 17:38

im a rachel! not very popular for babies now but needs bring back i think! also my brother is joey - and we never get "friends" references Smile

LestatVonGaribaldi · 20/11/2016 17:33

It's a good name. Recognisable but not too common these days. Plus whilst very popular in the past unlike say, Karen, it doesn't sound dated.

TheChippendenSpook · 20/11/2016 17:15

It's the best name Smile

alltouchedout · 20/11/2016 17:15

I love the name Rachel. I had a doll named Rachel when I was small :)

Racheyg · 20/11/2016 17:11

I'm a Rachel I agree we are awesome Grin it's a nice name. Although I don't hear of many now days.

Racerback · 20/11/2016 17:06

And now I'm convinced that I'm the fake, two-faced, gossipy, flakey and chav Rachel referred to upthread.

That does sound very like me.

Racerback · 20/11/2016 17:05

I'm a Rachel. And we ROCK.

I'm not so keen on those Rachaels though.

allegretto · 20/11/2016 17:02

Great name.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 20/11/2016 17:01

Rachel is a lovely name.

trufflepiggy · 20/11/2016 16:59

Lovely, classic name

Oblomov16 · 20/11/2016 16:30

I find most people spell it 'ael' and seem surprised when it's just 'el'.

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