The baby name Raphael feels romantic and traditional, plus it’s nicely underused.
Thanks to Natalie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
ARCHANGEL
Raphael means “God heals.”
He’s an archangel, and a major figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As religious figures go, he’s well-known. John Milton included him in Paradise Lost. The television series Supernatural gave us a version of Raphael, too.
A handful of additional saints Raphael have been recorded, but odds are that many of the places are named for the angel. There’s more than one Saint-Raphaël in French-speaking countries, as well as several San Rafaels through the Spanish-speaking world.
ARTIST
Then there’s Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael.
A prolific artist, the architect and painter helped define the High Renaissance in Italy. A contemporary of Michelangelo and da Vinci, he’s a master of the era.
Perhaps Raffaello isn’t quite as well known as some of his contemporaries. But a 1980s animated series putting them back on equal footing.
TURTLE
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted way back in 1984. While the series has been rebooted, it’s never really gone away.
The premise? A quartet of turtles, exposed to the same radioactive isotopes that created comic book hero Daredevil, meet up with a wise sensei, who happens to be a rat, in the sewers of New York. They grow into pizza-loving crimefighters. The rat – Splinter – named them after Renaissance artists: Michaelangelo (a typo that stuck), Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael.
That makes the name instantly familiar to a generation – and counting.
BY THE NUMBERS
The baby name Raphael has ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since 1901, and most years before that.
But it’s never been common.
It rose in use in the late 1980s, into 1990 – suggesting that the turtles did encourage parents to consider the name. (Or maybe not. The very similar Gabriel entered the Top 100 in the 1970s. It’s not a stretch to discover Raphael from the similar-sounding Gabriel.)
The baby name Raphael now hovers in the 500s. That makes it familiar, but far from common.
RAFAEL
And yet, in plenty of languages, the name is far more common.
Rafael – the Spanish spelling – outranks Raphael, and has for years. It’s been a Top 300 name since the 1960s, even reaching the Top 200 a few times.
That makes Rafael the logical brother name for Isabella and Sofia, a crossover that feels obviously Spanish, but easily worn in English.
RAFE AND RALPH
Rafael shortens to Rafi and Rafa, but we also call Rafael and Raphael by another nickname: Rafe.
We also sometimes pronounce the German Ralph the same way. Think Ralph Fiennes. But the names have completely separate origins.
There’s also a similar Arabic name, Raef, again not linked to Raphael or Ralph.
INTERNATIONAL APPELLATION
Despite the name’s relatively rare status in the US, Raphael and Rafael are global citizens, names heard ’round the world.
It’s as romantic as Romeo, and yet Rafe makes Rafael as accessible as Gabriel and Gabe, or Michael and Mike.
If you’re hunting for something with a certain pan-European flair and a long history of use, the baby name Raphael is certainly one to consider.
First published on May 28, 2008, this post was updated on July 29, 2020.
My grandson is Raef I think it is a beautiful name for a boy a proper boys name when his name was announced it got a mixed response from family and friends but now everyone likes it also we had never heard of another child called Raef but since he arrived two people I know have had boys in there extended family and they have been called Raef/Rafe. I just hope it dosnt become to popular.
I think Raphael is safe from being immediately turtle-ized, if only because it’s so popular. Donatello, though, is probably hopeless 🙂
Rafferty is nice, but I would never use it. Question: Do you think Raphael will become quite popular soon? We’re about 3 years away from having kids and I think Raphael nn Rafi has major potential for us…
I cannot get past TMNT. I do love the nn Rafe though. How’s about Rafferty?
I agree that the TMNT association is something a lot of people can’t get past, but for me it’s not problematic because it’s not a negative association. Rafferty is nice, but it sounds too British for me. Also, I prefer to stay away from ‘y’ or ‘ee’ endings for boys. I think Raphael is the best way to get to nn Rafi and Rafe.
I don’t get TMNT from Raphael. I think of it, but it is my fourth or fifth association. The first is a local photographer, who answers to Raphi. But then there’s the archangel and the painter, and Ralph Fiennes, who pronounces his first name Rafe. And then maybe the turtle. But then, I’m 37 and was just a smidge too old for TMNT. Maybe a few years younger and that would be my first thought …
I like Rafferty – and despite Jude Law using it for his son, I haven’t met one.
Yay, I found one of my favorite names! I first thought of Raphael because I love the Arabic name Rafi, but I think it’s too short and the ‘ee’ ending doesn’t age well. Raphael fits the bill because he is religious but not too common. I would hesitate to put one name on the birth certificate with the intention of actually calling the child something else, but my husband is a Michael who goes exclusively by Mike and he’s assured me it’s fine. All in all, I can definitely see us using Raphael and calling him Rafi; I just have to convince the hubby that Raphael is not only for Ninja Turtles 🙂
Just thought to look for Raphael, how in the world did I miss him?!?
Raphael’s a long time love of mine. Even as a kid, he was my favorite Archangel! Yeah, He’s a love all right, but still a long shot for me; the Mr. thinks he’s too religious for us.I think the point is moot, especially with boys who have Pope names!
*shrug* If I get the chance to sneak it in, I absolutely will!
Raphael and Gabriel, oh my! Lovely names, but I wonder if their father is Michael? 🙂
I know a couple of little ones who bear that moniker, memorably one also has a little brother called Gabriel just like the archangels! While I would never choose Raphael – it’s just not me – I am quite fond of it. As for Gabriel – I love that!
I am always in search of NotDs! At the moment, the calendar is filled through June 12 – but that’s a mere two weeks’ worth. Funny you should ask, because I was just trying to decide *when* to post another call for suggestions. But yes, either reply to the original post, or any NotD post really.
As for St. Raphael’s, we actually belonged to a St. Raphael’s parish a few years ago. I called it St. Rafe’s – which my husband thought was quite irreverent and possibly soul-damaging. So far, I have not been struck by lightning.
St. Raphael of Brooklyn has a really quirky rhythm to it, doesn’t it? Love it!
Oh no! The secret’s out!
Seriously, Raphael is gorgeous, it’s high on my own list. I love its meaning and its soft sounds for a boy. Somehow it manages to still stay strong. Rapha