Rising since 2014, #218 for boys today.
Popularity of Rafael since 1880
Babies named Rafael per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rafael's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 65 |
| 1890s | 84 |
| 1900s | 172 |
| 1910s | 608 |
| 1920s | 1,701 |
| 1930s | 1,402 |
| 1940s | 1,833 |
| 1950s | 3,954 |
| 1960s | 6,285 |
| 1970s | 9,592 |
| 1980s | 12,274 |
| 1990s | 14,370 |
| 2000s | 15,037 |
| 2010s | 12,794 |
| 2020s | 9,208 |
Meaning & origin
Rafael has been in consistent use in the United States since at least 1880, the earliest year in Social Security records. Its current rank of 218 (2025) represents a notable rise from earlier decades, with upward momentum since 2014. The name peaks in popularity in 2025, suggesting it is more favored now than at any previous point in U.S. history. Approximately 1 in 1,042 boys receive the name, reflecting a moderate but growing level of use. Geographically, Rafael is most popular in the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and California, areas with significant Hispanic and Latino communities. This distribution underscores the name's strong cultural ties to Spanish-speaking heritage, though its biblical roots give it broad cross-cultural appeal.
Rafael derives from the Hebrew name רְפָאֵל (Rafa'el), composed of rafa 'he healed' and el 'God'. In the Bible, Raphael is one of the archangels, appearing in the Book of Tobit as a healer and guide. The name has been widely used in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, with particular popularity in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Where Rafael is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Rafael” around the world
Where Rafael lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
530
babies in 2024
Ireland
12
babies in 2025
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Quebec
67
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rafa, Ralph
Variants: Raphael, Rafaël
Sibling names for Rafael
Names that share Rafael's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Gabriela, Isabella, Valentina, Sofia, Camila, Luz, Maribel, Mercedes, Selena, Alondra, Aracely, Bettina, Carlotta, Catarina, Graciela, Ivelisse, Marisa, Marisol, Oralia, Reina, Rocio, Rosita, Valencia, Amparo, Analisa, Anjelica, Azucena, Briseyda, Caridad, Carlita, Carmina, Celestina, Citlalli, Clarisa, Clarita, Criselda, Damita, Delfina, Divina, Enedina, Enriqueta, Fabiana, Felica, Jacinda, Jovita, Lorita, Lourdes, Maricella, Marita, Markita, Marysol, Merari, Milagro, Mirella, Neida, Nelida, Perla, Rafaela, Romona, Rosaura, Rosia, Rosio, Sarita, Silvana, Solana, Soleil, Sulema, Zoraida, Zulema, Aixa, Alandra, Alegra, Anaid, Anaiz, Andreia, Aracelia, Aracelis, Aracelli, Arelis, Asucena, Asusena, Banesa, Buena, Carmalita, Claritza, Clemencia, Consuella, Dorita, Eneida, Erendira, Esthela, Estrellita, Felita, Florentina, Gabryella, Isidra, Jadira, Lavanda, Loida, Lucerito, Luzelena, Madalena, Manuella, Marguita, Marieta, Mariluz, Marisel, Mariza, Melida, Mercede, Mirabel, Montoya, Narda, Nayara, Nereyda, Omaira, Paulita, Prisilla, Ramonia, Rosabella, Rosenda, Soleia, Solimar, Soraida, Sulma, Tanita, Tere, Yanelli, Zuleima, Adamariz, Altagracia, Anabela, Analiza, Atalaya, Aviela, Betzaida, Caramia, Celita, Charo, Grasiela, Hermela, Izadora, Lucrecia, Maricel, Mauricia, Molina, Nohelia, Perlita, Rosali, Rosalita, Sevilla, Tita, Trini, Veleta, Carleta, Heloisa, Ladina, Almendra, Amadea, Anabelen, Anacarolina, Anadelia, Aniella, Aracelie, Aymara, Belkys, Bernarda, Constancia, Felicidad, Feliza, Gabrielly, Gavriella, Gissela, Glorimar, Idaliz, Ineze, Ismelda, Ivelis, Ivelise, Karlita, Larosa, Lavilla, Lucita, Maripaz, Mercedies, Morayma, Obdulia, Olita, Onelia, Onesti, Ramonica, Remedios, Solita, Yazmina, Yomaris, Zuleica
Brothers: Mateo, Sebastian, Lucas, Diego, Gabriel, Angelo, Jesus, Manuel, Adan, Adriano, Alfonzo, Alonzo, Arturo, Cordero, Dante, Edwardo, Evaristo, Florentino, Genaro, Gregorio, Ignacio, Jovanni, Marcelino, Marcial, Montez, Sabino, Santana, Santino, Santo, Teodoro, Trinidad, Abelardo, Amado, Catarino, Cipriano, Clemente, Conrado, Eladio, Erasmo, Eugenio, Faustino, Florencio, Geraldo, Herminio, Justo, Luan, Marciano, Matheus, Pascual, Ramone, Raynaldo, Raziel, Renato, Ulisses, Valente, Vidal, Vincente, Ambrosio, Angelito, Antoino, Caio, Deleon, Eleno, Enrigue, Fabricio, Froilan, Guilherme, Henrique, Jancarlo, Marcio, Mateus, Melecio, Merced, Mizael, Nataniel, Oracio, Orlanda, Otoniel, Pasha, Ramir, Reginaldo, Renan, Santonio, Serjio, Sylvio, Teofilo, Toribio, Victorio, Vinicius, Zidane, Abelino, Altonio, Arcangel, Armondo, Catalino, Damacio, Graciano, Irineo, Joaopedro, Marcellino, Natalio, Nicasio, Onofre, Raymondo, Regino, Rodriques, Romualdo, Tonio, Tulio, Inigo, Alano, Amalio, Amante, Anguel, Antolin, Bento, Bravlio, Caetano, Cordera, Dago, Dionel, Elonzo, Giomar, Giovanne, Loranzo, Manolito, Manuelito, Mataeo, Romaldo, Sadiel, Sharbel, Valeriano, Victormanuel, Vitor, Yonael, Ysmael
Names like Rafael
Names whose popularity has moved with Rafael's over the last 50 years.
