The nameRafael
Rafael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God heals". The Spanish and Portuguese form of Raphael, it is famous through Rafael Nadal.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Rafael comes from the Hebrew Rephael, "God has healed".
Origin
Hebrew. Raphael is the archangel who guides Tobias in the Book of Tobit. Raphael, the Renaissance painter, bore the Italian form, Raffaello.
History
Rafael is a classic in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Rafael Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, made it famous worldwide. It is in the American top 200.
Rafael in other languages
Rafael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Raphael. It is Raphaël in French, Raffaele in Italian and Rafał in Polish. The tennis player Rafael Nadal is nicknamed Rafa.
Nicknames for Rafael
The most common nicknames for Rafael: Rafa and Rafe.
Did you know?
- Rafael Nadal won the French Open fourteen times, a record for any Grand Slam tournament.
Famous people named Rafael
- Saint Raphael the Archangel
- Rafael Nadal, tennis player
- Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
- Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio), painter
Popularity of the name Rafael
Rafael in the United States
Rafael was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 15,093 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Rafael. Its rise began around 1924, and it peaked in 2006. Half of all babies named Rafael in the United States were born before 1993. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 1,511 births a year on average, against 1,308 in the five years before.
Rafael in the United Kingdom
Rafael was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 2,120 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Rafael. Its rise began around 2002, and it peaked in 2022. Half of all babies named Rafael in the United Kingdom were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 274 births a year.
Rafael in France
Rafael in Belgium
Rafael in Switzerland
Rafael in Austria
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Rafael
Names from the same generation as Rafael, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Rafael? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Rafael with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Rafael side by side with the name of your choice.
Rafael in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rafael mean?
Rafael comes from the Hebrew Rephael, "God has healed".
What is the origin of the name Rafael?
Hebrew. Raphael is the archangel who guides Tobias in the Book of Tobit. Raphael, the Renaissance painter, bore the Italian form, Raffaello.
Is Rafael a girl's or a boy's name?
Rafael is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Rafael?
In 2024, Rafael was the 222nd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,614 births.
What are the variants of the name Rafael?
Variants and related names of Rafael include Raphael.
What are good sibling names for Rafael?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Miriam, Talia, Noemi and Joanna for a sister, Simon, Ismael, Abraham and Emmanuel for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Rafael?
The most common nicknames for Rafael are Rafa and Rafe.
Who are famous people named Rafael?
Saint Raphael the Archangel; Rafael Nadal, tennis player; Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador; Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio), painter.