What Does the Name Rafael Mean?
Rafael is a boy's name of Spanish/Portuguese (from Hebrew) origin meaning “God has healed.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Rafael |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Spanish/Portuguese (from Hebrew) |
| Meaning | God has healed |
| Variants | Raphael, Raphaël, Raffaele, Rafa |
| Popularity | Highly popular in Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America; also widely used internationally. |
The meaning and origin of Rafael
The name Rafael means “God has healed” and has Spanish/Portuguese (from Hebrew) origins. Rafael is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Raphael, from the Hebrew Rephael meaning 'God has healed.' Raphael is one of the archangels named in Jewish and Christian tradition.
Variants and related names
Rafael is related to several other names you may recognize: Raphael, Raphaël, Raffaele, Rafa. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Rafael?
Highly popular in Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America; also widely used internationally.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rafael mean?+
The name Rafael means “God has healed” and is of Spanish/Portuguese (from Hebrew) origin.
What is the origin of the name Rafael?+
Rafael originates from Spanish/Portuguese (from Hebrew).
Is Rafael a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Rafael has trended in the US over time.
Rafael by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press