Rachael or Rachel?

[TitchyWitch]

If you were to chose the name would you go for Rachel or Rachael? And is it one of those names that if you say too much it sounds weird?

I believe (you'd have to check this though) that Rachael is the traditional English spelling of the name, whereas Rachel is from the Hebrew and is the Biblical spelling. That might influence your choice. Personally I think Rachael looks a bit more sophisticated so that would be my choice.

Another Rachael here - but know many of both spellings.

As long as she is prepared to say 'with an second a' :)

Thanks Lurcherlover, I am quite sophisticated.

I love this name but DH vetoed it

I vote for Rachael

Rachel definitely. Lovely :)

Definitely 'Rachel' - the traditional way. the extra 'a' version looks silly in my opinion

Rachel. Love it. Don't hear it so much now.

I'd go for the more accurate spelling of Rachael. Looks nicer on paper, too!

I don't think it's that much of a nightmare spelling names out. I've had to do it all my life and it really doesn't dent my quality of life all that much.

Rachel is a really lovely name. I think if it was me I'd keep the spelling simple seeing as both versions are pronounced the same. I knew a Rachael at school and she always got really cross when people missed out the 'a' and that happened alot!

I'd go with Rachel. Nice name.

Rachel is best- tis my name too. Really gets on my nerves when people shorten it to Rach, and am forever being asked if it has an extra A.

In my mind Rachael just looks like you really wanted a Michael.

I know a Rachelle - pronounced the usual Rachel way. Something of an odd spelling I think

i knew a Rachael at school so that's my default spelling of the name.
i think it's weird when people say it's spelt Rachel. (although i know 2 of those now)

i always ask wihch way it's spelt, anyway, so whichever spelling you choose, people will ask.

i have t o say, i do prefer Rachael.

I guess it depends if you want to go with the traditional, accurate 'biblical' spelling which is 'Rachel' Rachael is just a variant of this.

Is it odd to want to go for biblical names when I'm a confirmed atheist? I think I just want to do it 'properly'. Anyway I thought that this was the one name we had agreed on but today he says he still prefers Edith, nn Edie which is ok but I don't love.

Rachel - as already mentioned it's the original biblical spelling.

Many people seem incapable of spelling it correctly anyway so being the shortest option it's marginally less time wasted spelling it out. I've known many other Rach(a)els in my time and we're usually split 50/50 between the spellings.

Continental Europeans have trouble saying it, I become a more exotic sounding 'Rashelle'.

Oh and surely if you say any word too many times it starts to sound weird? As a child I used to do that deliberately with innocuous words like 'carrot', Maybe I was just a weird child though!

Rachael - makes it more unique. who cares if you have to spell it out!

Rachel definitely. The other spelling looks silly.

Rachel of course ! :D

I'm a Rachael. And I've always had to spell it out for the extra a. Doesn't bother me so much now, but even some of my friends still get it wrong. I'd go for Rachel.

Rachel.have one in my family.ive always loved the name

I'm a Rachel. :) I've run into a few others during my life, but not many. It means Ewe, which is perfect for bad 'I'm ewe/you' puns.

I frequently have to add "With just one A." when telling people how to spell it, but clarification will be required no matter which way you go.

In my case, it's probably not helped by the fact I'm nicknamed to Rae. (Don't really like Rach.)