Rafael: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced rah-fy-EL · 3 syllables
Rafael means “God has healed”, from Hebrew and Spanish.
Compare Spanish Rafael, Portuguese Rafael.
- Meaning
- God has healed
- Origin
- Hebrew, Spanish
- Pronunciation
- rah-fy-EL
- US rank (2025)
- #218
- US babies a year
- about 1,557 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 2020
How popular is Rafael?
Rafael was the #218 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,639 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2020.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #218 |
| England & Wales | #187 |
| Scotland | #372 |
| Ireland | #318 |
| France | #62 |
| Norway | #308 |
| Canada | #157 |
| Australia | #200 |
How old are people named Rafael?
Half of US adults named Rafael are older than 38; most are between 19 and 70. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Rafael
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Rafael have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Rafael
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
- Carlos
- Francisco
- Miguel
- Fernando
- Jose
- Luis
- Nathanael
- Ismael
- Antonio
- Juan
- Gabriel
- Pedro
- Pablo
- Felipe
- Emmanuel
- Jonathan
On these lists
Questions about Rafael
What does the name Rafael mean?
Rafael means “God has healed”. It comes from Hebrew and Spanish.
How do you pronounce Rafael?
Rafael is pronounced rah-fy-EL.
How popular is the name Rafael?
Rafael was the #218 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,639 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2020.
How old are people named Rafael?
Half of US adults named Rafael are older than 38. Most are between 19 and 70.