Rafael
MeaningGod heals · Spanish form of Raphael
- US rank
- #218
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #195 in 1985
1,639 babies were named Rafael in the US in 2025. It has climbed 28 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Rafael you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Rafael
Rafael Nadal
Spanish tennis player (born 1986)
Choose Rafael and your child shares a first name with Rafael Nadal, a Spanish tennis player. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Rafael, like who?” Rafael Nadal's Wikipedia article is available in 154 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Rafael Nadal on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Barcex, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,042 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Rafael, 1,639 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Rafael would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRafael has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Rafaels, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1985, when it reached #195.
- TrendRafael has climbed 28 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #218. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedRafael is most popular in Washington, D.C., where it ranks #55, followed by California (#127) and Texas (#133). It's in the top 1,000 in 36 states.
- MeaningRafael is a Spanish form of Raphael, which means “God heals”. Our records link it to Hebrew and Spanish roots.
About the name Rafael
Rafael is a boy name of Hebrew and Spanish origin meaning “God heals”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-ael”. US birth records list Rafael for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked #195 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #218, with 1,639 babies.
Origin:Hebrew namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 60 | 16,736 boys |
| 1890s | 74 | 13,545 boys |
| 1900s | 127 | 7,864 boys |
| 1910s | 98 | 10,242 boys |
| 1920s | 154 | 6,484 boys |
| 1930s | 133 | 7,528 boys |
| 1940s | 121 | 8,266 boys |
| 1950s | 194 | 5,145 boys |
| 1960s | 331 | 3,019 boys |
| 1970s | 583 | 1,716 boys |
| 1980s | 665 | 1,504 boys |
| 1990s | 738 | 1,356 boys |
| 2000s | 753 | 1,328 boys |
| 2010s | 681 | 1,468 boys |
| 2020s | 889 | 1,125 boys |
Other spellings of Rafael
More Hebrew boy names
- Unisex name: Noah · rest, comfort
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: Elijah · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Levi · joined, attached
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Rafael
What does the name Rafael mean?
Rafael means “God heals” in Spanish, as a form of Raphael.
What is the origin of the name Rafael?
Rafael has Hebrew, Spanish roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Noah, James, Elijah.
Is Rafael a boy or girl name?
Rafael is a boy name.
How popular is the name Rafael?
Rafael ranked #218 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,639 babies. Its best year was 1985 (#195).