Rising since 2014, #5,399 for boys today.
Popularity of Rafa since 1998
Babies named Rafa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | 0 |
| 2000s | 14 | 0 |
| 2010s | 24 | 47 |
| 2020s | 23 | 91 |
Meaning & origin
Rafa entered U.S. records in 2011 and has been steadily climbing, rising in rank since 2014. As of 2025, it ranks 5,399 with a frequency of about 1 in 100,475 births, reaching its peak popularity in 2023. The name is most common in Florida. As a diminutive of Rafael, Rafa carries the meaning 'God has healed,' and its growth reflects a broader trend toward short, vowel-ending names like Mateo and Luca. Though historically a nickname, Rafa is increasingly used as a standalone given name, appealing to parents seeking a concise yet culturally rich choice.
Rafa is a diminutive of Rafael (also spelled Raphael), a name of Hebrew origin derived from the elements 'rafa' meaning 'to heal' and 'El' meaning 'God'. The name appears in the Bible as an archangel, and it has been widely used across Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures. In recent years, Rafa has gained popularity as an independent given name, particularly in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities, as well as in the United States.
Where Rafa is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Rafa” around the world
Where Rafa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Rafa
Names that share Rafa's style, for a brother or sister.
