Boy
Rafael
God has healed
About Rafael
Elegant and timeless, Rafael exudes sophistication across languages and cultures. This name possesses an artistic sensibility that feels both classical and contemporary, making it perpetually stylish rather than trendy. The soft consonants and flowing vowels create a name that sounds as beautiful when spoken as it looks written. Rafael carries cultural richness without being tied to a single geography—it's genuinely international. This versatility means your son will navigate diverse environments with a name that translates effortlessly. Whether he becomes an artist, scientist, entrepreneur, or teacher, Rafael provides a distinguished foundation. The nickname options add practicality for childhood while preserving the full name's elegance for formal occasions.
Popularity of the Name Rafael
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #793 | ||||
| 1881 | #643 | ||||
| 1882 | #921 | ||||
| 1883 | #786 | ||||
| 1885 | #916 | ||||
| 1887 | #733 | ||||
| 1888 | #743 | ||||
| 1889 | #775 | ||||
| 1890 | #724 | ||||
| 1891 | #935 | ||||
| 1892 | #933 | ||||
| 1894 | #843 | ||||
| 1895 | #668 | ||||
| 1896 | #960 | ||||
| 1897 | #637 | ||||
| 1898 | #869 | ||||
| 1899 | #701 | ||||
| 1900 | #772 | ||||
| 1901 | #503 | ||||
| 1902 | #780 | ||||
| 1903 | #649 | ||||
| 1904 | #464 | ||||
| 1905 | #586 | ||||
| 1906 | #500 | ||||
| 1907 | #611 | ||||
| 1908 | #549 | ||||
| 1909 | #586 | ||||
| 1910 | #532 | ||||
| 1911 | #622 | ||||
| 1912 | #657 | ||||
| 1913 | #626 | ||||
| 1914 | #677 | ||||
| 1915 | #730 | ||||
| 1916 | #697 | ||||
| 1917 | #698 | ||||
| 1918 | #708 | ||||
| 1919 | #578 | ||||
| 1920 | #550 | ||||
| 1921 | #529 | ||||
| 1922 | #510 | ||||
| 1923 | #501 | ||||
| 1924 | #469 | ||||
| 1925 | #451 | ||||
| 1926 | #467 | ||||
| 1927 | #429 | ||||
| 1928 | #412 | ||||
| 1929 | #403 | ||||
| 1930 | #394 | ||||
| 1931 | #407 | ||||
| 1932 | #435 | ||||
| 1933 | #491 | ||||
| 1934 | #505 | ||||
| 1935 | #519 | ||||
| 1936 | #527 | ||||
| 1937 | #565 | ||||
| 1938 | #549 | ||||
| 1939 | #545 | ||||
| 1940 | #542 | ||||
| 1941 | #548 | ||||
| 1942 | #503 | ||||
| 1943 | #533 | ||||
| 1944 | #458 | ||||
| 1945 | #453 | ||||
| 1946 | #454 | ||||
| 1947 | #436 | ||||
| 1948 | #415 | ||||
| 1949 | #421 | ||||
| 1950 | #388 | ||||
| 1951 | #410 | ||||
| 1952 | #354 | ||||
| 1953 | #383 | ||||
| 1954 | #348 | ||||
| 1955 | #352 | ||||
| 1956 | #348 | ||||
| 1957 | #390 | ||||
| 1958 | #342 | ||||
| 1959 | #345 | ||||
| 1960 | #334 | ||||
| 1961 | #326 | ||||
| 1962 | #332 | ||||
| 1963 | #337 | ||||
| 1964 | #324 | ||||
| 1965 | #304 | ||||
| 1966 | #298 | ||||
| 1967 | #278 | ||||
| 1968 | #259 | ||||
| 1969 | #255 | ||||
| 1970 | #245 | ||||
| 1971 | #257 | ||||
| 1972 | #232 | ||||
| 1973 | #232 | ||||
| 1974 | #226 | ||||
| 1975 | #215 | ||||
| 1976 | #215 | ||||
| 1977 | #215 | ||||
| 1978 | #218 | ||||
| 1979 | #222 | ||||
| 1980 | #208 | ||||
| 1981 | #204 | ||||
| 1982 | #199 | ||||
| 1983 | #201 | ||||
| 1984 | #204 | ||||
| 1985 | #195 | ||||
| 1986 | #203 | ||||
| 1987 | #207 | ||||
| 1988 | #206 | ||||
| 1989 | #213 | ||||
| 1990 | #202 | ||||
| 1991 | #210 | #500 | |||
| 1992 | #209 | #467 | |||
| 1993 | #212 | #536 | |||
| 1994 | #202 | #523 | |||
| 1995 | #205 | #482 | |||
| 1996 | #215 | #433 | |||
| 1997 | #227 | #876 | #469 | ||
| 1998 | #229 | #957 | #461 | ||
| 1999 | #229 | #934 | #388 | ||
| 2000 | #230 | #865 | #456 | ||
| 2001 | #233 | #796 | #378 | ||
| 2002 | #231 | #646 | #350 | ||
| 2003 | #236 | #636 | #315 | ||
| 2004 | #224 | #585 | #315 | ||
| 2005 | #228 | #455 | #633 | #239 | |
| 2006 | #217 | #405 | #475 | #234 | |
| 2007 | #228 | #338 | #609 | #209 | |
| 2008 | #240 | #310 | #584 | #182 | |
| 2009 | #257 | #273 | #362 | #163 | |
| 2010 | #258 | #291 | #443 | #194 | |
| 2011 | #274 | #310 | #310 | #362 | #180 |
| 2012 | #287 | #281 | #369 | #317 | #177 |
| 2013 | #288 | #273 | #398 | #167 | |
| 2014 | #293 | #303 | #395 | #176 | |
| 2015 | #294 | #278 | #413 | #326 | #178 |
| 2016 | #291 | #257 | #404 | #193 | |
| 2017 | #283 | #255 | #534 | #202 | |
| 2018 | #258 | #221 | #214 | #481 | #187 |
| 2019 | #261 | #219 | #354 | #185 | |
| 2020 | #247 | #198 | #383 | #340 | #182 |
| 2021 | #237 | #204 | #276 | #322 | #175 |
| 2022 | #232 | #192 | #319 | #317 | #184 |
| 2023 | #231 | #207 | #294 | #329 | #171 |
| 2024 | #222 | #233 | #332 | #334 | #183 |
| 2025 | #218 | #208 | #420 | #331 | #214 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Rafael
Names Similar to Rafael
Nicknames for Rafael
- Rafa
- Raf
- Ray
- Raffy
Famous People Named Rafael
| Rafael Nadal | Spanish tennis player |
| Rafael van der Vaart | Dutch footballer |
| Rafael Marquez | Mexican footballer |
| Rafael Benítez | Spanish football manager |
| Rafael Palmeiro | Cuban-American baseball player |
| Rafael Trujillo | former dictator of the Dominican Republic |
| Rafael Correa | former president of Ecuador |
| Rafael Amaya | Mexican actor |
| Rafael Casal | American actor and writer |
| Rafael dos Anjos | Brazilian mixed martial artist |
| Rafael Nadal Parera | Spanish painter |
| Rafael Cavalcante | Brazilian mixed martial artist |
| Rafael Ortiz | Costa Rican conservationist and explorer |
| Rafael Iruzubieta Fernández | Spanish lawyer and politician |
| Rafael Ortega | Venezuelan baseball player |
| Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia | former president of Costa Rica |
| Rafael Rosell | Filipino actor |
| Rafael Osmo | Israeli DJ and producer |
| Rafael Di Zeo | Argentine football hooligan |
| Rafael Vitti | Brazilian actor and musician |
Characters Named Rafael
| Rafael McCall | Teen Wolf |
| Rafael Barba | Law & Order - Special Victims Unit |
| Rafael "Ralph" Cifaretto | The Sopranos |
| Rafael Waithe | Mr. Robot |
| Rafael "Rafi" Alvarez | Brooklyn Nine-Nine |
| Rafael "Rafa" Hernández | Elite |
| Rafael "Raf" Moretti | The Secret Circle |
| Rafael "Rafe" Cameron | Outer Banks |
| Rafael "Rafi" Gavron | Skins |
| Rafael Esquivel | FIFA video game series |
| Rafael Humphreys | EastEnders |
| Rafael Solano | Crazy Ex-Girlfriend |
| Rafael Santiago | Shadowhunters |
| Rafael "Rafi" Garcia | Mythic Quest - Raven's Banquet |