Rahel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	11	1	–	#8,061
1980s	71	7	+545%	#6,057
1990s	124	12	+75%	#4,547
2000s	115	12	-7%	#7,665
2010s	136	14	+18%	#5,756
2020s (to 2025)	54	9	-34%	#6,928

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#8,061

1980s

+545%

#6,057

1990s

124

+75%

#4,547

2000s

115

-7%

#7,665

2010s

136

+18%

#5,756

2020s (to 2025)

-34%

#6,928

The story of Rahel

Rahel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,238 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1971, 511 American babies have been named Rahel. Its peak came in 1996, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rahel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Rahel?

The median living Rahel is about 20 years old; half are between 11 and 32. An estimated 500 people named Rahel are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Rahel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	13	#8,238
2024	7	#13,145
2023	–	–
2022	17	#6,928
2021	5	#17,117
2020	12	#8,828
2019	22	#5,756
2018	10	#10,393
2017	8	#12,489
2016	10	#10,672
2015	12	#9,363
2014	13	#8,858
2013	22	#5,965
2012	11	#10,268
2011	12	#9,592
2010	16	#7,808
2009	14	#8,784
2008	17	#7,665
2007	12	#10,008
2006	13	#9,150
2005	9	#11,602
2004	11	#9,761
2003	8	#12,131
2002	13	#8,181
2001	10	#9,926
2000	8	#11,533
1995	14	#6,533
1990	10	#8,347
1985	6	#10,292
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Rahel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Rahel?

The median living Rahel is about 20 years old. Half of all living Rahels are between 11 and 32 years old.

How many people named Rahel are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Rahel are alive in the United States, based on 511 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Rahel in 2025?

Rahel ranked #8,238 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rahel?

511 babies have been named Rahel in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rahel most popular?

Rahel peaked in 1996, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Rahel a boy or girl name?

Rahel is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rahel rising or falling?

Rahel is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Rahel?

Well-known people named Rahel include Rahel Varnhagen (writer).

Rahel

Rahel popularity over time

The story of Rahel

How old are people named Rahel?

Rahel year by year

Famous people named Rahel

Frequently asked questions

Names like Rahel