Jacqueline vs Rachel
Jacqueline 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 1986, Jacqueline was ranked #95 and Rachel #12 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Jacqueline was ranked #278 and Rachel #15 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Jacqueline was ranked #99 and Rachel #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jacqueline was ranked #718 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1995, Jacqueline was ranked #634 and Rachel #283 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jacqueline was ranked #1892 and Rachel #394 among girls in England and Wales.
Jacqueline and Rachel over time
Jacqueline and Rachel appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jacqueline in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jacqueline reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Rachel in none. 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 1971, Rachel moved ahead of Jacqueline in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #42 the year before became #35 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacqueline and Rachel changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1961 and 1995, ending at #634 and #283.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jacqueline and Rachel averaged 34.6 places apart, ending at #99 and #20.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacqueline and Rachel were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #394.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jacqueline #349 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2025
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rachel in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #11 in 1964, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 1979: Rachel moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #51 and #53; by 1979 that had become #51 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacqueline #718, Rachel #186.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #349 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacqueline #1892, Rachel #394.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1968–1997
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rachel in 26.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #19 in 1968, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order changed in 1971: Rachel moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #35 and #42; by 1971 that had become #35 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jacqueline #99, Rachel #20.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1961–1995
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Rachel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #327 in 1970, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order changed in 1988: Rachel moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #398 and #464; by 1988 that had become #524 and #407.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Jacqueline #634, Rachel #283.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1965–1986
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rachel in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #12 in 1965, Rachel #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1970: Rachel moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #20 and #22; by 1970 that had become #21 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Jacqueline #95, Rachel #12.
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 | Jacqueline | 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 | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 64/100 | 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); Jacqueline does not have one recorded yet.
- Jacqueline has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachel.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Jacqueline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jacqueline
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 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