Raquel

Raquel - A very unique female name

Raquel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #1049. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Raquel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Raquel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Raquel. The baby girl name Raquel was given to 160 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1119 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,147 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Raquel peaked in popularity 56 years ago in 1970 on position 216.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Raquel, 1-5?

Raquel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Raquel is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #561 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,648.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Raquel is where you live.

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Raquel origin and meaning

Spanish and Portuguese, from Hebrew

The Spanish and Portuguese form of Rachel, from Hebrew Rahel, 'ewe'

Raquel is the Iberian form of the biblical Rachel, used for centuries in Spain and Portugal and long established in the US through Spanish-speaking families. It peaked in America in 1970 and has declined slowly since.

Attested etymology

Raquel is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Raquel, pop culture references for the name Raquel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Raquel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Raquel, sorted by popularity.

Rachel / Rachael / Rosalie / Rochelle / Rachelle / Rosella / Rosalee / Racheal / Rosalia / Richelle /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Raquel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Raquel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Raquel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

rah-KEL · /rɑːˈkɛl/

Around the world

• Rachel (English) — The English form of the same Hebrew name.

Spellings and nicknames

• Racquel — An elaborated spelling; a separate entry.
• Raquelle — A French-style elaborated spelling.

Famous bearers

• Raquel Welch — American film star of the 1960s and 1970s (1940–2023) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalInternational

Why parents choose it

Raquel offers the biblical Rachel story with a warmer, more international sound, and it honours Spanish or Portuguese heritage naturally. It is familiar across generations without being common now.

Worth knowing

• English speakers sometimes say RAY-kwel instead of rah-KEL.
• Raquel Welch remains the dominant association for older generations.