Rachel facts for kids

Rachel is a female given name. It is a popular name in English.

The Story Behind the Name: Rachel in the Bible

The name Rachel comes from the Hebrew word meaning "ewe," which is a female sheep. Rachel is a very important person in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament. She is one of the four main mothers, called matriarchs, of the Israelites.

Rachel was the wife of Jacob, a grandson of Abraham. She was the mother of two of Jacob's twelve sons: Joseph and Benjamin. Her story is told in the Book of Genesis.

Famous People Named Rachel

Many famous people throughout history and today share the name Rachel. Here are some of them:

• Rachel (Hebrew Bible) – An important figure in the Bible.
• Rachel Ames – An American actress.
• Rachel Bilson – An American actress.
• Rachel Carson – An American marine biologist and writer. She wrote "Silent Spring," which helped start the modern environmental movement.
• Rachel Corrie – An American activist.
• Rachel Crow – An American singer and actress.
• Rachel Dratch – An American actress and comedian.
• Rachel Griffiths – An Australian actress.
• Rachel Hunter – A New Zealand model and actress.
• Rachel Korine – An American actress.
• Rachel Luttrell – A Canadian actress.
• Rachel McAdams – A Canadian actress.
• Rachel Maddow – An American television journalist.
• Rachel Portman – An English composer, known for her film scores.
• Rachel Ruff – A biographer and author.
• Rachel Roberts – A Welsh actress.
• Rachel Robinson – The wife of famous baseball player Jackie Robinson.
• Rachel Smith – An American beauty queen who was Miss USA in 2007.
• Rachel Ward – An English actress.
• Rachel Weisz – An English actress.

Images for kids

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  Rachel and Jacob at the Well by James Tissot (c. 1896–1902)

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  Fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo of Rachel sitting on the idols (1726–1728)

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  Rachel's Tomb, near Bethlehem, 1891

See also

In Spanish: Raquel para niños