Rafael
Boy name · #218 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Rafael? In official American birth records, Rafael has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rafael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rafael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rafael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Rafael is most common in DC (5.5 per 1,000), CA (1.8 per 1,000), TX (1.7 per 1,000), AZ (1.7 per 1,000), MA (1.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Rafael is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Rafael?
In official American birth records, the name Rafael first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.