Rochelle

The girl's name Rochelle likely has its origin in the French city La Rochelle. In this context, it is interpreted as 'the little rock', derived from the Old French term roche, meaning 'the rock', combined with the diminutive ending '-elle'.

What does the name Rochelle mean?

Rochelle, an English name for girls, may be derived from the name of the French city La Rochelle, which gives it the meaning of 'the little rock'. Furthermore, Rochelle is regarded as the feminine variant of the names Roch and Roche, which are in turn French derivatives of the Old High German Rochus and originally stem from the Old High German Roho. In this context, the name means 'the roaring', 'the screaming', or 'the one who lets out the battle cry'. The roots lie in the Old High German rohon, meaning 'to roar', 'to scream', or 'to roar in battle'. The name gained popularity in the USA during the 1930s and is often chosen by African American parents today. The name also became known through the veneration of Saint Roch of Montpellier, who is considered the patron saint against the plague and lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. In certain regions, he is counted among the fourteen Holy Helpers. An alternative spelling is Rokelle. A prominent bearer of the name is actress Rochelle Hudson.

Where does the name Rochelle come from?

The origin of the name Rochelle is both Old French and Old High German, with meanings of 'the little rock' or 'the roaring'. Old French and Old High German are the linguistic roots: rohon means 'to roar', 'to scream', 'to roar in battle', 'to let out the battle cry', or 'the war cry' (Old High German), while roche means 'the rock' (Old French). The language in which Rochelle is used includes African American English as well as American English.

How do you pronounce Rochelle?

The sound and pronunciation of Rochelle is two to three syllables and has a French tonal quality. It is usually pronounced as 'Ro-shelle' [ʁoˈʃɛl] or in English [roʊˈʃɛl]. The name begins with a rounded, darker 'o'. The soft sibilant in the middle syllable gives it a gentle movement, while the final 'l' fades softly. Rochelle sounds elegant and melodic - harmonious, fine, and present.

When is the name day of Rochelle?

The name day for Rochelle is celebrated on August 16.

Popularity

In Germany, Rochelle is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,884th on the list of most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2022 at 3,777th. Over the last ten years, Rochelle has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it at 6,013th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 6,582nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Ella / Elli / Rei / Roro / Roschel / Roschi

Famous people

• La Rochelle (coastal city in France)
• Majesty Rochelle York (American singer)
• Rochelle Abramson (violinist)
• Rochelle Alers (American author)
• Rochelle Ashana (actress)
• Rochelle Aytes (American actress)
• Rochelle Ballantyne (American chess player)
• Rochelle Coleman (American basketball player)
• Rochelle Elizabeth Hudson (American actress)
• Rochelle Eulah Eileen Wiseman (British singer)
• Rochelle Feinstein (American artist)
• Rochelle Gilmore (Australian cyclist)
• Rochelle Hudson (American actress)
• Rochelle Humes (British singer)
• Rochelle Lieber (American linguist)
• Rochelle Loewen (Canadian actress)
• Rochelle Majer Krich (American author)
• Rochelle Owens (American author)
• Rochelle Pangilinan (Filipino actress)
• Rochelle Perts (singer from the Netherlands)