Fun Facts About the Name Rael
- 660 babies named Rael: U.S. records list 660 babies given the name Rael from 1880 through 2025. Even 202 girls received the name Rael - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Rael Mean?
Rael is a masculine given name used in English and French. It ends in -el, the Hebrew word אֵל (El, "God") that closes many biblical and angelic names, such as Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Uriel. Names of this kind are called theophoric because they include a reference to God.
Its exact derivation is uncertain. Rael is often linked to the Hebrew name Reuel (with the related form Raguel), built from re'a ("friend, companion") and El, which gives the sense "friend of God." It is also sometimes treated as a short form of Raphael, meaning "God has healed." Because a short name can stand for more than one longer name, neither explanation is firmly documented.
Rael Name History & Origins
The Hebrew Bible contains the related name Reuel (רְעוּאֵל), borne by Moses' father-in-law, also called Jethro, and by an Edomite chief. A further related form, Raguel, appears in the Book of Enoch, a Second Temple Jewish text preserved in the Ethiopic tradition, where Raguel is named as one of the archangels. Rael is often taken to be a shortened form of this family of names; it is not itself a biblical name.
As a modern given name, Rael is used in English and French. In France the spelling Raël became widely known after 1974, when Claude Vorilhon, a French journalist and former racing driver, adopted it and founded the Raelian Movement. The name is also found as a surname in the United States.
How Popular is the Name Rael?
Rael has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #2,326 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,237 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #9,390 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #13,143 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #10,228 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #15,164 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #15,804 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #15,978 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #16,090 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,095 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #13,173 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #13,187 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #16,794 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #16,995 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #13,630 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #18,510 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,118 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #17,479 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #10,805 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #14,575 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #10,130 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #10,894 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #10,265 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #11,458 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #12,940 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,919 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #11,801 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #9,253 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,529 | 53 | 0.0031% |
| 2024 | #2,326 | 61 | 0.0036% |
| 2023 | #4,186 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2022 | #2,818 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2021 | #4,096 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2020 | #5,184 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2019 | #5,110 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2018 | #4,573 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #4,707 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #11,801 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #10,363 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #9,408 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #7,961 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #11,923 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #9,397 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #10,481 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,829 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #9,648 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #12,019 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #6,377 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,887 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #9,694 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #7,112 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #11,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #11,721 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #8,503 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #9,353 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #9,476 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,267 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1987 | #5,946 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #6,055 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #4,739 | 8 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Rael Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Rael's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rael's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.