The story behind Raphael
Latin Raphael. From Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl, literally “God cures/has healed”).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
German entry
From Latin Raphael, from Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl).
Latin entry
Borrowed from Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl).
Pronunciation
US: /ˌɹɑ.faɪˈɛl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- UK: /ˈɹæf.eɪˌɛl/
- UK: /ˈɹæf.eɪ.əl/
- UK: /ˈɹæf.ɪ.əl/
- UK: /ˌɹæf.aɪˈɛl/
- UK: /ˌɹɑː-/
- UK: /ˈɹɑː-/
- US: /ˌɹæf.aɪˈɛl/
- US: /ˈɹæf.i.əl/
- US: /ˈɹɑ.fi.əl/
- certain Carolina accents: /ˈɹæf.ɛəl/
- German: /ˈʁafaˌɛl/
- German: /ˈʁafaˌeːl/
- Latin: [raˈfaː.el]
Popularity
Raphael ranked #394 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Raphael
Raakel
From Late Latin Rachel, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḥēl, literally “ewe, (female) sheep”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rachael
A female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rachel
Borrowed from Late Latin Rāchēl, from Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”). Doublet of Raquel. From Ancient Greek Ῥαχήλ (Rhakhḗl), from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ráchel
From Hebrew רָחֵל (“ewe”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rafael
From Biblical Hebrew רָפָאֵל (Rāfāʾēl, literally “God has cured/healed”). Learned borrowing from Latin Raphael, borrowed from Koine Greek Ῥᾱφᾱήλ (Rhāphāḗl), from Biblical…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rāhel
Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew רָחֵל (rāḫēl, “ewe”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Raphael
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdia
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew עוֹבַדְיָה (ovadya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Raphael
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aamos
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length