Rafael
raf-uh-EL /ˌræf.əˈɛl/
Meaning of Rafael
Rafael comes from the Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rafa'el): rafa ('to heal') + el ('God'). The full meaning is 'God has healed' or 'God heals.' Raphael is one of the two named archangels (with Gabriel and Michael, depending on tradition) and the patron of travellers, pharmacists and physicians. The Spanish/Portuguese form Rafael and the Italian/English Raphael are the same name in different regional clothes.
How to pronounce Rafael
In Spanish: ra-fa-EL (three syllables, stress on final). In Italian: RA-fa-el (stress on first).
Current popularity of Rafael
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #180 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #12 |
| Portugal (INE) | 2024 | #5 |
| Italy (ISTAT) | 2024 | #14 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #7 |
Notable bearers of Rafael
Raphael (archangel); Raphael (Italian Renaissance painter, Raffaello Sanzio, 1483–1520); Rafael Nadal (tennis player).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Rafael — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177009
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31