UK girl's name
Rachal
Female name derived from Hebrew meaning "ewe" or "little female lamb".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rachal is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rachal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 1998. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Rachal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1999 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rachal ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Rachal.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rachal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3848
1998
Births in 1998
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Rachal mean?
The name Rachal is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "rachel," which means "ewe" or "female sheep." It is a biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as the name of the beloved wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
In the Book of Genesis, Rachel is portrayed as a beautiful and cherished woman who struggled with infertility for many years before giving birth to Joseph. Her story is central to the narrative of the Israelites and their journey to the Promised Land. Rachel's name has since become a symbol of love, devotion, and maternal sacrifice.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rachal can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient Jewish religious manuscripts dating back to the third century BCE. The name was also mentioned in various rabbinic literature and Jewish historical records throughout the centuries.
Historically, several notable figures have borne the name Rachal or its variants. One of the earliest was Rachel of Tarsus, a Christian martyr from the third century CE, who was revered for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution.
In the Middle Ages, Rachel de Lunel, a 13th-century Jewish scholar and poet from Provence, France, gained recognition for her contributions to Hebrew literature and her wisdom in interpreting sacred texts.
During the Renaissance period, Rachal Ruysch (1664-1750), a Dutch artist and naturalist, became renowned for her exquisite still-life paintings and her expertise in preserving and studying anatomical specimens.
In the 19th century, Rachal Bartlett (1837-1904), an American writer and activist, played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement and advocated for educational reforms.
More recently, Rachal Leigh Cook (born 1979), an American actress, rose to fame for her roles in films such as "She's All That" and "Josie and the Pussycats," showcasing her talent and versatility on the big screen.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rachal over time
The chart below shows babies named Rachal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 1998. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rachal, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 1998, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rachal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rachal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3511 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rachal
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rachal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rachal in the UK right now?
In 1998, Rachal was ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rachal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Rachal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rachal?
Female name derived from Hebrew meaning "ewe" or "little female lamb".
How many people are called Rachal in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Rachal across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.