Details for the forename Rachel

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Rachel (female)


Variants:	Rachall (F) Rachele (F) Raghnaid (F) Raghnailt (F) Rakel (F) Raquel (F)
Diminutive(s):	Rach (F) Rachl (F)
Pet Name(s):	Rae (F) Ray (F) Rele (F) Rella (F) Rochie (F)
Can be spelt:	Rachael (F) Rachal (F) Rachell (F) Rachelle (F) Ratchel (F) Ratchell (F)

Source(s):	FreeCEN 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire The Oxford Names Companion, OUP "Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Notes:	English, French and German from Hebrew "ewe", symbolising "gentleness"; OT Genesis 35:17-18. In the Middle Ages Rachel was predominantly Jewish but is now widely used in both Jewish and non-Jewish communities. The 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire has a number of spelling variants, the most frequent of which are listed Above. Most of these should be found using a Soundex search. The most popular spelling variant, Rachael, is believed to have been influenced by the spelling of Michael.