Raquel
How to say it: ruh-KEL · /rəˈkɛl/
Spanish form of Rachel, from Hebrew meaning 'ewe'; associated with innocence and gentleness.
Raquel was the 218th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 209 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are down about 39% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #255 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #218 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 209 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,005 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −39% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #255 |
| In France, 2025 | #281 among girls’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Raquel crested in the 1970s and has cooled since. It stands well below that height and is likely to drift lower.
What goes with it
Gentle and crisp at once across two parts, Raquel travels well with a biblical heritage. Carmen makes a harmonious match.
Nicknames
- Raqui
- Raki
Honouring a Raquel in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Raquel is about 1 in 84.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #281 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Raquel
- Raquel Welch (1940–2023)American actress
- Raquel del Rosario (born 1982)Spanish singer
- Raquel Castro (born 1994)American actress and singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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