Rafael
Boy name · #218 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
Rafael is currently the #218 boy name in the United States — 1,639 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #293, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,098 boys born in 2025 was named Rafael.
The 145-year story
Rafael first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 1,702 boys were named Rafael — good for #217 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rafael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rafael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rafael in class?
Rafael scores 43 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rafael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rafael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Rafaels were CA (323), TX (295), FL (124), NY (119), IL (57). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Rafael
Statistically, parents drawn to Rafael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Israel, Miguel, Ismael, Raphael, and Manuel.
IsraelMiguelIsmaelRaphaelManuelMisaelEmmanuelNathanael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rafael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,639 | #218 |
| 2024 | 1,621 | #222 |
| 2023 | 1,517 | #231 |
| 2022 | 1,517 | #232 |
| 2021 | 1,490 | #237 |
| 2020 | 1,424 | #246 |
| 2019 | 1,392 | #261 |
| 2018 | 1,405 | #258 |
| 2017 | 1,282 | #283 |
| 2016 | 1,238 | #291 |
| 2015 | 1,226 | #293 |
| 2014 | 1,205 | #293 |
| 2013 | 1,208 | #287 |
| 2012 | 1,231 | #286 |
| 2011 | 1,274 | #274 |
| 2010 | 1,333 | #257 |
| 2009 | 1,345 | #257 |
| 2008 | 1,541 | #240 |
| 2007 | 1,622 | #228 |
| 2006 | 1,702 | #217 |
| 2005 | 1,492 | #228 |
| 2004 | 1,544 | #224 |
| 2003 | 1,411 | #236 |
| 2002 | 1,453 | #231 |
| 2001 | 1,455 | #232 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Rafael a popular boy name?
Rafael ranked #218 among boys in 2025 with 1,639 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #293.
When was the name Rafael most popular?
Rafael peaked in 2006, when 1,702 American boys received the name (ranked #217 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rafael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,098 newborn American boys was named Rafael. It scores 43/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.