Names › Boys' names › R › Raphael

Raphael

Meaning: God heals · Origin: Hebrew · Gender: usually a boy's name

Origin & history

Hebrew Rafa'el, 'God heals' — one of the archangels. Renaissance painter Raphael made it artistic.

Famous people named Raphael

Raphael (painter)
Rafael Nadal (tennis player
Spanish form)

Nicknames

Rafa, Raf

Variants & related names

Rafael, Raffaele, Rafał

Raphael name art

A free preview of a printable “Raphael” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Raphael mean?

Raphael means “God heals”. It comes from Hebrew.

Is Raphael a popular name?

Yes — Raphael has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Raphael?

Rafa, Raf.

What are other forms of Raphael?

Rafael, Raffaele, Rafał.

Similar names

Joseph · Joshua · Nathan · Caleb · Eli · Aaron

More: names starting with R · all boys' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.