Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Hebrew.
Raquel is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Rachel, from the Hebrew rachel meaning "ewe" — a young female sheep, symbol of gentleness, nurturing, and the pastoral life. Rachel was the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob in the Bible.
With over 50,000 U.S. births recorded, Raquel has been a beloved name in Hispanic-American communities for generations. Actress Raquel Welch — one of the most iconic sex symbols of the 1960s and 1970s — gave the name its most glamorous cultural identity. Its Spanish form of the classic Rachel carries both biblical depth and Latin warmth.