Rafael
5 countries#218 in United States, 2025Popularity across 5 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Rafael was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
89,947 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #218 · peaked in 2006 with 1,710 births
Most common in: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
16,835 births recorded 1914–2022 · currently #115 · peaked in 2009 with 1,007 births
Most common in: Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Nord, Bouches-du-Rhône, Yvelines
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
3,596 births recorded 1996–2025 · currently #539 · peaked in 2021 with 294 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
3,462 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #188 · peaked in 2021 with 289 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
107 births recorded 2006–2025 · currently #441 · peaked in 2022 with 13 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
Northern Ireland
27 births recorded 2013–2022 · peaked in 2022 with 8 births
Source: NISRA, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Rafael’s rank among boys’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #217 | — |
| 2007 | #228 | ↓11 |
| 2008 | #240 | ↓12 |
| 2009 | #257 | ↓17 |
| 2010 | #257 | — |
| 2011 | #274 | ↓17 |
| 2012 | #286 | ↓12 |
| 2013 | #287 | ↓1 |
| 2014 | #293 | ↓6 |
| 2015 | #293 | — |
| 2016 | #291 | ↑2 |
| 2017 | #283 | ↑8 |
| 2018 | #258 | ↑25 |
| 2019 | #261 | ↓3 |
| 2020 | #246 | ↑15 |
| 2021 | #237 | ↑9 |
| 2022 | #232 | ↑5 |
| 2023 | #231 | ↑1 |
| 2024 | #222 | ↑9 |
| 2025 | #218 | ↑4 |
Frequently asked questions about Rafael
Is Rafael a popular name?
Yes — Rafael currently ranks #218 among boys’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Rafael more common for boys or girls?
Rafael is recorded predominantly as a boys’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Rafael most popular?
Rafael peaked in 2006 in United States, with 1,710 recorded births that year.
Is Rafael rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Rafael’s popularity is rising — its rank has improved from #745 in 1880 to #218 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Rafael?
At least 110,378 babies have been recorded with the name Rafael across official birth statistics in 5 countries.
Is Rafael popular in more than one country?
Yes — Rafael appears in official birth records in 5 countries: United States, France, England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
What names are similar in popularity to Rafael?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Rafael include Zachary, Baker, Joel, Tyler.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to Rafael in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.