The name Račje selo developed from the phrase *Radęťe selo 'Radę's village', thus referring to an early inhabitant of the place. The Slovene name is not connected with raca 'duck' or rak 'crab', which also form the adjectiveračji. In the past, the village was known as Rappelgeschieß in German. The German name is a compound; the first part refers to a Count Rapoto or Rappold attested in the area in 1062, probably shortened from Radebald and also the source of the Slovene name *Radę. The second part of the German name means 'seat, possession', thus 'Radebald's possession'.