How Many People Are Named Rachel?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Rachel

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 9,072 living people in the United States currently have the first name Rachel. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 18,370 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #133 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~9,072CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)18,370Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#133U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1945 (354 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~9,072
Historical Births (SSA)
18,370
All-Time Rank
#133
Historical Peak
1945

Key Insights for Rachel

Estimated Living Bearers
~9,072 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#133
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1945
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
5.5% Male · 94.5% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~1,134 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Rachel

Living Population Model
~9,072

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
18,370

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
13,953

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
53.3 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1945

Highest annual total: 354 registrations in 1945.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (+0%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Rachel has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Rachel (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1945 (~354 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201086581
201185580
201285580
201385580
201485580
201585580
201685580
201785580
201885580
201985580
202085580
202185580
202285580
202385580
202485580

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
86/100
1960s
56/100
1970s
27/100
1980s
10/100
1990s
4/100
2000s
24/100
2010s
24/100
2020s
12/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Rachel has been predominantly feminine (94.5% female vs 5.5% male).

Male: 5.5% (~1,014 births)Female: 94.5% (~17,356 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Rachel

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Rachel in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Rachel appeared 13,953 times, ranking #439 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
13,953 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#439
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Rachel Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~1,134 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~1,13412.5%
Texas (TX)~8359.2%
Florida (FL)~6176.8%
New York (NY)~5536.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~3634%
Illinois (IL)~3543.9%
Ohio (OH)~3273.6%
Georgia (GA)~2993.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 9,072 people named Rachel are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 53.3 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Rachel: 53.3 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Rachel

How many people in the U.S. are named Rachel?

Approximately 9,072 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Rachel. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 18,370 birth applications for Rachel between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Rachel?

Rachel ranks #133 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Rachel comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Rachel most popular in America?

The name Rachel reached its peak historical popularity in 1945, when 354 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Rachel?

Rachel has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Rachel?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Rachel has been predominantly feminine (94.5% female vs 5.5% male).

Where is the name Rachel most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Rachel resides in California, with approximately 1,134 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Rachel in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Rachel appeared 13,953 times in census returns, ranking #439 in official 2020 returns.

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