Rochelle

Rochelle is a given name and a surname of French origin, derived from the port city of La Rochelle in western France. The name entered English usage in the medieval period and is commonly used as a female given name; it also occurs as a surname.

As a toponym, Rochelle appears in several places in the United States, often as part of a larger name. The best-known is Rochelle, Illinois, a city in Ogle County associated with regional rail facilities. Rochelle Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. Other small communities or neighborhoods bear the name or use it as part of their name, reflecting either a connection to the French city or to families bearing the Rochelle surname.

La Rochelle, the equivalent French place name, is a major port and urban center on France’s Atlantic coast with a long maritime history. The English form Rochelle is sometimes used in reference to La Rochelle or to historical ties linked to the city or to families bearing the surname.

In modern usage, Rochelle appears as a female given name across English-speaking countries and as a surname in various cultures. The name is found in literature, media, and public life, without a single figure defining its prominence.