With those spellings, I prefer
Rachel. But I prefer
Michele with one l ahead of them all.
I was at school with a
Rochelle; quite a pleasant person whom I hardly remember. And no Rachels at all, and just the one
Michele, still one of my closest friends. In a town close by, there is a very distinguished girls' school called La
Rochelle - we had a lot of French Huguenot immigrants at the time of the religious wars in
Europe and it probably dates back to them. But, that is my connection and it doesn't make much impact on me, tbh. I'd certainly choose
Rachel if I ever had to: it has grace and dignity, and isn't connected to any particular brand of religion, or to any religion at all. I don't enjoy
Michelle, in spite of the Beatles' best endeavours.