Raphaela
A feminine form of the masculine name Raphael, from Hebrew "healing of God".
Name Census estimates that about 435 living Americans carry the first name Raphaela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Raphaela today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Raphaela births was 2016 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Raphaela. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
435
~ 1 in 787,941 Americans
Peak year
2016
19 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,813
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Raphaela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Raphaela from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 116 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Raphaela remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Raphaela by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Raphaela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Raphaelas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Raphaela
The name Raphaela is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Raphael, which means "God has healed" or "God's healing power." It is derived from the Hebrew words "Rapha" meaning "to heal" and "El" meaning "God." The name has its origins in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Tobit, where the archangel Raphael plays a significant role.
The earliest recorded use of the name Raphaela dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. During this time, the name was often given to girls born on the feast day of the Archangel Raphael, celebrated on October 24th. It was a popular name among Catholic families who held a deep reverence for the archangel and sought his protection and healing.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Raphaela was Raphaela de Palau (c. 1290-1345), a Spanish mystic and religious writer from Valencia. She was known for her visions and her work on spiritual discernment. Another notable figure was Raphaela Ferrer (1495-1574), a Spanish mystic and founder of the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, also known as the Religious of the Redemption of Captives.
In Italy, the name Raphaela gained prominence in the 16th century, particularly in artistic circles. Raphaela Zuanna Spada (c. 1537-1611) was an Italian painter and one of the few prominent female artists of the Renaissance period. She was known for her portraits and religious paintings, many of which can be found in churches and museums in Rome.
During the 17th century, the name Raphaela was also found among European nobility. Raphaela von Siebenbürgen (1598-1670) was a German-born Transylvanian princess and the wife of Prince Gabriel Bethlen of Transylvania. She played an important role in the political and cultural life of the region during her time.
In the 19th century, Raphaela Billington (1825-1853) was a renowned English operatic soprano who gained fame for her performances in various operas, particularly those by Bellini and Donizetti. She was highly regarded for her vocal technique and stage presence, and her early death at the age of 28 was mourned by many in the music world.
Throughout history, the name Raphaela has been associated with themes of healing, protection, and spiritual guidance, reflecting its biblical origins and connection to the archangel Raphael. It has been embraced by various cultures and traditions, particularly those with strong Catholic influences, and has been carried by women from diverse backgrounds and professions.
People
Raphaela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Raphaela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Raphaela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Raphaela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 435 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Raphaela going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 787,941 US residents.
Is Raphaela a common name?
We classify Raphaela as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 491 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Raphaela most popular?
The single biggest year for Raphaela was 2016, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Raphaela is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Raphaela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Raphaela in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.