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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rachel/Rachael

70 replies

lawrencecostin · 02/02/2019 15:10

Pros: feminine, Biblical

Cons: Rachael or Rachel in the West is often dated to the seventies and eighties.

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Beerflavourednipples · 02/02/2019 22:15

I really like Rachel, it's pretty and there won't be tons of them about.

But definitely spelt Rachel, otherwise she will be forever correcting people!

qumquat · 02/02/2019 22:12

Most of the Rachaels I know are Rachael. Certainly as a child in the 80s that's how all the many Rachaels spelled it. Rachel looks wrong to me. I'm not a massive fan of the name either way myself but it will definitely be unusual without sounding odd.

weegiemum · 02/02/2019 22:10

I have a super cool 15 year old Rachel. We know a couple of others around her age. It's a great name, really stands the test of time (she was named after her great-grandma who died only 3 weeks before she was born, though we'd have used it anyway).

MrsMartinRohde · 02/02/2019 22:01

I know a toddler Rachel, one in her 20s and loads age 40+

I don't know any Rachaels but do know a Raechel.

I'd always go for the straightforward spelling

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/02/2019 21:46

I love the name Rachel. I think it’s quite timeless as I know a few Rachel’s from aged 55 down to 18.

RLOU30 · 02/02/2019 21:44

I’m a Rachel born late 80’s I love my name :) quite a lot of people spell it Rachael and I have to correct them.

meepmoop · 02/02/2019 21:41

@WinterBerry7 that annoys me to but no one else seems to get why! Glad it's not just me

pud1 · 02/02/2019 21:39

I am a Rachel. I have never been very keen on it but I think it’s often the case with your own name. Only know one Rachel younger than 20. I work in an office of 6 women and 3 of us are called Rachel. All aged between 40 and 43 . It was certainly popular in the 70’s

WinterBerry7 · 02/02/2019 21:34

I’m a Rachael. It is constantly spelt wrong and even when I spell it out people put Rachel. But I do weirdly have a soft spot for the A! I have asked my parents why on earth they went for this spelling and they have no answer for me!
I do get called Rach a lot but I don’t mind if it’s people I know. It’s when someone I’ve just met/not known long start to refer to me as Rach - that winds me up.

Sophronia · 02/02/2019 21:25

I know a 6 month old Rachel.

meepmoop · 02/02/2019 21:17

I'm a Rachel people always try to spell my name as Rachael so now I always say spelt el if I'm giving it to be written down. I'm in my 20's and had another Rachel in my class

Ngaio2 · 02/02/2019 21:15

My granddaughter has Rachel as a second name. She was named after a loved pet ( though DD also named the pet when she was 4years old).
I love the name and so do my DD ( obviously) and DGD.

barkinatthemoon · 02/02/2019 21:08

I am a Rachael... we do exist 🤣! I'd agree with others to use the more familiar spelling though, as mine is always spelt wrong. I don't mind though, unless it's on something important where it needs to be right. My mum always said "Rachael" is how it's spelt in the Bible and the traditional correct spelling.... it isn't, she got it wrong!

TopBitchoftheWitches · 02/02/2019 21:00

slapp my other dd is called Louise. Smile

imanoldbattleaxe · 02/02/2019 20:56

Please don't give your child a name she will have to spell or constantly correct the spelling of!

Scandaloso · 02/02/2019 20:54

I had to google trochee

MrsSquiggler · 02/02/2019 20:53

Another one saying please spell it Rachel not Rachael otherwise everyone will misspell it! (Speaking from experience here)

Luglio · 02/02/2019 20:51

The best name. Classic, classless, ageless, feminine but not twee, and a trochee, which is good for combining.

MulderitsmeX · 02/02/2019 20:46

Beautiful name!

slappinthebass · 02/02/2019 20:44

Dated yes, but I sense it is making a swift comeback along with Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, Louise. I've seen those mentioned a lot on here.

Onceihadaname · 02/02/2019 20:38

She will be a rach, rack, Raquel, so not a good name to pick if you don't like people giving your daughter a nickname, but otherwise lovely. Definately the Rachel spelling, not Rachael though.
I was only thinking the other day how suprised I was that I hadn't heard of any tiny rachel's these days with the classic name revival

Thegoblins · 02/02/2019 20:35

It's great. I prefer Rachel. It sounds good to my ear, it's an open book kind of name without being bland (in my opinion).

WorriedJu · 02/02/2019 20:30

I love the name Rachel. Prefer the Rachel spelling too.
My little sister is called Rachel and I've always been envious of her name. Shesin her 40s.

It's never been massively popular so I doubt youll ever find tour daughter in a class full of them. Nor is it so rare she'll be repeating it for ever when introducing herself.

I think it's a lovely classic and timeless name.

Jaz32 · 02/02/2019 20:21

Rachel is my middle name and you don’t hear of many these days. I had a colleague Rachael and she hated it when people pronounced it Raquel by mistake! I taught a Rachel who would now be 7, and I know one baby Rachel as well. I like it and Rach is ok too.

RhubarbaraWindsor · 02/02/2019 16:37

I love the name but then I'm biased as I'm a Rachel, born early 60's when girls were given names like Tina or Susan or Tracy or Karen. I was almost called Stella and I can't thank my mother enough that she changed her mind! I know it can be spelt Rachael, but I've never come across one to my knowledge.