• Rachel is of Hebrew Origin and means ‘ewe’ (female sheep) and ‘innocence and gentility of a rose’
• The name Rachel has 30 different variants including Raquel, Ray, Rachelle and even Shelly!
• Interestingly, it was a Rachel (American ecologist Rachel Carson) who first questioned the use of pesticides in her groundbreaking book 'Silent Spring'
• Celebrity Rachels include - Rachel Weisz, Rachel Bilson and Rachel Stevens
• ‘The Rachel’ is one of the most popular haircuts of all time – inspired by Jennifer Aniston’s character, Rachel Green, from Friends
• In 2006 120, 000 babies born in the UK were named Rachel