Rachel vs Thu
Rachel and Thucompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2007, Rachel was ranked #98 and Thu #4294 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 1992, Rachel was ranked #334 and Thu #682 among girls in Norway.
Rachel and Thu over time
Rachel and Thu appear together in 1 published list, across 20 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Thu in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Thu 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls20 shared years, 1963–1992
Rachel held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Thu in 2.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #214 in 1973, Thu #313 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Rachel #334, Thu #682.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Rachel
Pairs where Rachel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rachel vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #1454.
Rachel · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rachel vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #1362.
Rachel · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rachel vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #983.
Rachel · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Rachel
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #27 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #394.
Olivia · Rachel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Rachel | Thu |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4294 (2007) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Thu does not have one recorded yet.
- Rachel has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Thu.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Thu doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
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
Thu
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #423 among girls in Norway in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–1992
Highest recorded position: #313 among girls in Norway, in 1977 (recorded 1956–1992).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2007
Most recently recorded at #4294 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007.
England and Wales · Girls