Rafael
Rafael is a Christian boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “God has healed”.
| Meaning | God has healed |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Written as | רְפָאֵל |
| Pronunciation | rah-fah-EL |
| Tradition | Christian, Jewish |
| Used in | Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico |
Meaning and origin of Rafael
Rafael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Raphael, from the Hebrew Refa'el, 'God heals'. Raphael is an archangel in the Book of Tobit, where he guides Tobias and heals Tobit's blindness, and he appears in Jewish tradition as one of the angels who visit Abraham. The Renaissance painter Raphael and the tennis champion Rafael Nadal are famous bearers.
Is Rafael a Christian name?
Saint Raphael the Archangel is honoured in Catholic and Orthodox churches, and the name is also used by Jewish families, often in the Hebrew form Refael.
How popular is Rafael?
Very common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries and increasingly used in the United States.
Gifts with the name Rafael
- Rafael name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Rafael baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Rafael
Names similar to Rafael
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rafael mean?
Rafael means 'God has healed'. It is of Hebrew origin.
Is Rafael a Christian name?
Saint Raphael the Archangel is honoured in Catholic and Orthodox churches, and the name is also used by Jewish families, often in the Hebrew form Refael.
How do you pronounce Rafael?
Rafael is pronounced rah-fah-EL.
Is Rafael a boy or girl name?
Rafael is usually a boy name.