Rafael
Rafael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God has healed.
Origin and history
Rafael is a classic name derived from Hebrew meaning 'God has healed'. It has deep historical roots through biblical tradition and is widely used across Western cultures, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and Slavic-speaking regions. In the United States, it maintains steady popularity as a timeless given name.
Popularity in the United States
89,379 babies in the United States have been named Rafael since 1880. It ranks #336 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #230.
States where it is most popular
- CA (27.9 %)
- TX (19.3 %)
- NY (14.4 %)
- FL (5.6 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 65 |
| 1890-1900 | 84 |
| 1900-1910 | 172 |
| 1910-1920 | 608 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,701 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,402 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,833 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,954 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,285 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,592 |
| 1980-1990 | 12,274 |
| 1990-2000 | 14,370 |
| 2000-2010 | 15,037 |
| 2010-2019 | 12,794 |
| 2020-2029 | 9,208 |
Famous people named Rafael
- Rafael Nadal: Tennis Player, Athlete
- Rafael Devers: Baseball Player, Athlete
- Rafael Correa: Politician, Economist
Nicknames
Rafa, Raf
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Hebrew name Rapha'el, belonging to the archangel of healing in apocryphal texts.
- The Italian Renaissance painter and architect Raphael shared this name's classical lineage.