The baby name Raphael feels romantic and traditional, plus it’s nicely underused.
Thanks to Natalie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME RAPHAEL MEAN?
Raphael is a name of Hebrew origin. It 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.
His story is first told in the Book of Tobit. (Catholics and others include in the Bible; Protestants tend to consider it part of the Apocrypha.) It’s said he cures a man of blindness, among other miracles.
In other words, the archangel Raphael is very much a healer.
A handful of additional saints Raphael have been recorded.
It’s found all over the map. 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.
The television series Supernatural gave us a version of the angel Raphael, too.
RAFFAELLO
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.
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.
RAPHAEL ACROSS EUROPE and THE WORLD
It’s not just Italian, though.
Versions of the baby name Raphael are heard in many languages, including:
- Spanish Rafael is popular in the United States, Spain, and throughout the Spanish-speaking world
- Rafael also occurs in Dutch, making it popular in the Netherlands, as well as Israel, and several Slavic countries
- Rafal is Polish
- Raphael is popular in French, including France, Belgium, and Quebec
- The -PH spelling is also used in German-speaking countries, including Austria
It’s a truly international choice.
If anything, the baby name Raphael is relatively uncommon in the English-speaking world.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME RAPHAEL?
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.
Maybe those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles did influence parents’ choices?
More likely, the rise of the very similar Gabriel opened the door for Raphael.
As of 2024, the baby name Raphael ranks #420 for boys in the United States.
Worth noting: Rafael continues to outpace the popularity of the name Raphael. The -f spelling comes in at #222 as of 2024.
SPANISH LANGUAGE INFLUENCE
In fact, Rafael might be another reason for the rise of Raphael.
So many parents are seeking English-Spanish crossover names. Just like Sophia and Sofia, Isabella and Isabelle both sit near the top of the popularity charts for girls, it’s easy to imagine parents embracing Rafael or Raphael as a boy’s name easily understood by Spanish-speaking family members.
NICKNAMES FOR RAPHAEL
Rafael shortens to Rafi and Rafa, but we also call Rafael and Raphael by another nickname: Rafe.
This gets a little confusing, because it’s possible to pronounce the Germanic Ralph the same way. Think Ralph Fiennes.
But there’s no overlap between Ralph and Raphael, despite the visual similarity.
A similar Arabic name, Raif or Raef, means compassionate.
TRADITIONAL AND VERSATILE
It sounds contradictory, but traditional names are always trending. Thirty years ago, it was Nicholas, Christopher, and Jacob. Now it’s Henry, Thedore, and Oliver.
The baby name Raphael seems like a possible succesor. With touchstones across various cultures, it’s an effortlessly international choice. It fits with so many trends – the -el ending of rising Eliel, Jasiel, and Castiel; the bright, strong nickname options.
There’s a drama and romance to Raphael, but it’s also a classic choice, with deep roots and enduring appeal. Call it an overlooked traditional, a name that quietly stands the test of time, but also offers a little bit of swagger and presence.
That might make Raphael or Rafael the perfect name for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Raphael?
First published on May 28, 2008, this post was updated on July 29, 2020 and again on September 15, 2025.
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