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Rafael Boy

Popularity: #211 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Pronunciationrah-fah-el / /ræˈfɑː.ɛl/

Hebrew; Spanish; Portuguese

Meaning

Hebrew: God has healed; Spanish/Portuguese: derived from the Hebrew

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Rafael has its roots in the Hebrew name רָפָאֵל (Rafa'el), which translates to "God has healed" or "God heals." This name is composed of the elements "rapha," meaning to heal, and "el," meaning God. The name was adopted into Greek as Ῥαφαήλ (Rhaphaēl) and subsequently into Latin as Raphaël. The transition into Old French occurred during the medieval period, leading to the modern English form, Rafael, which retains the original meaning associated with divine healing.

Historically, Rafael is significant in various religious texts and traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, Raphael is one of the archangels, appearing in the Book of Tobit, which is part of the Apocrypha. This text, dating back to the 3rd or 2nd century BCE, depicts Raphael as a guide and healer, further solidifying the name's association with healing and divine intervention. The archangel's prominence continued into Christian traditions, where he is recognized in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, often celebrated on September 29th alongside Michael and Gabriel.

Culturally, the name Rafael has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts. It is notably associated with the Renaissance painter Raphael Sanzio, whose works reflect themes of beauty and divine inspiration, echoing the name's connotations of healing and guidance. The name has also appeared in various forms across cultures, with diminutives such as Rafi or Rafe being used in different linguistic contexts. Rafael's enduring legacy is tied to its rich historical and spiritual significance, making it a name that resonates across multiple cultures and eras.

Trend Summary

Rafael has seen consistent popularity in the United States, often ranking within the top 100 names for boys.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Rafa
  • Rafaël

International Variants

  • Raffaele (Italian)
  • Raphaël (French)
  • Rafael (Spanish)
  • Rafaël (Dutch)

Famous people named Rafael

Rafael Nadal is a professional tennis player best known for winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles.

Rafael Benítez is a football manager best known for managing Liverpool FC, Valencia CF, and Newcastle United.

Rafael M. Salas is a prominent figure in the field of public health best known for his work in health policy and administration.

Rafael Correa is an economist and former U.S. President of Ecuador best known for his role in the country's economic reforms and social programs.

Fictional characters named Rafael

Rafael is a fictional character from the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He is one of the four main Ninja Turtles, known for his aggressive personality and red mask.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rafael was first seen in the United States in 1880. Rafael has ranked as high as #403 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Rafael has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Rafael (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 314
21%
TX 306
20%
FL 125
8%
NY 98
6%
IL 75
5%
AZ 62
4%
GA 44
3%
WA 42
3%
NC 42
3%
MD 32
2%
MA 30
2%
VA 29
2%
PA 27
2%
OH 22
1%
OK 22
1%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18807
18819
18826
18837
18845
18856
18878
18889
18898
18909
18916
18927
18936
18948
189511
18967
189712
18988
189910
190012
190116
190210
190313
190422
190517
190621
190718
190822
190921
191029
191125
191242
191351
191457
191567
191673
191776
191880
1919108
1920124
1921139
1922146
1923149
1924174
1925178
1926166
1927201
1928215
1929209
1930214
1931190
1932167
1933130
1934132
1935124
1936117
1937106
1938111
1939111
1940118
1941119
1942148
1943140
1944176
1945172
1946196
1947239
1948265
1949260
1950299
1951275
1952366
1953329
1954420
1955417
1956448
1957388
1958503
1959509
1960541
1961580
1962566
1963526
1964582
1965615
1966620
1967670
1968768
1969818
1970947
1971867
1972926
1973906
1974930
1975986
1976976
19771,033
1978996
19791,025
19801,188
19811,213
19821,255
19831,186
19841,147
19851,250
19861,211
19871,216
19881,286
19891,322
19901,503
19911,483
19921,484
19931,427
19941,431
19951,459
19961,399
19971,360
19981,386
19991,438
20001,472
20011,455
20021,453
20031,411
20041,544
20051,492
20061,702
20071,622
20081,541
20091,345
20101,333
20111,274
20121,229
20131,208
20141,205
20151,226
20161,238
20171,282
20181,404
20191,391
20201,423
20211,489
20221,516
20231,515
20241,614