Name meaning & stats
Rafael
Rafael means “God cures/has healed” (Hebrew origin). 85,880 US babies since 1940, peak 2006. Notable Rafaels are 1.3× over-represented as writers.
What it means
“God cures/has healed”
HebrewForm of Raphael
In US birth records
Peak year: 2006
85,880 US babies were named Rafael between 1940 and 2025.
Where Rafaels end up
Not enough notable Rafaels yet, so this uses the spelling family: Rafael, Raphael.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.0× | Medium · 14 people |
| Actor | 1.1× | Medium · 12 people |
| Writer | 1.3× | Medium · 12 people |
| Footballer | 0.9× | Medium · 11 people |
Among notable men who are writers, the Rafael family show up 1.3× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Rafael has a surprise career: 1.5×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 77% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 2006)