Andrea vs Rachel
Andrea and Rachelcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Andrea was ranked #94 and Rachel #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Andrea was ranked #88 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Andrea was ranked #355 and Rachel #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #1079 and Rachel #394 among girls in England and Wales.
Andrea and Rachel over time
Andrea and Rachel appear together in 5 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrea in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Andrea in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Rachel moved ahead of Andrea in New Zealand · Girls — #18 and #22 the year before became #20 and #4.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Andrea and Rachel averaged 33.0 places apart, ending at #94 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrea and Rachel were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #394.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Andrea #354 in 1998, Rachel #27 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 61.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls56 shared years, 1961–2024
Andrea held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Rachel in 1.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #11 in 2005, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrea #88, Rachel #472.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 30.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #1079, Rachel #394.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1965–1988
Andrea held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rachel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #15 in 1975, Rachel #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1970: Rachel moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #18 and #22; by 1970 that had become #20 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Andrea #94, Rachel #8.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Andrea #355, Rachel #91.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Andrea | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #98 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrea and Rachel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrea
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #394 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls