Raphael

Updated: May 2009

Raphael ~ God has healed ~ Hebrew

I am happy to say that this was my first requested name, sent in from a fan of Nameisms. I love choosing baby names to write about, but I also think it's really important to have other people's input. So please follow suit and give me a recommendation!

The name submitted was Raphael, but I soon discovered that the Spanish-influenced spelling, Rafael, is more popular in America. No matter how you spell it, it conveys global, spiritual, and artistic qualities. Raphael appears in several religious works as the name of an angel in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian traditions. The angel is often associated with healing.

Raphael has a fluid, graceful sound, but still maintains unwavering masculinity. Both spellings are given to baby boys born in Spain, the United States, Germany, South America, Sweden, Canada, the U.K., and Austrailia (in that order). On a global scale, the name can be found in any country with Latin influence.

Its popularity was perhaps helped most by the Italian artist of the High Renaissance, Raphael. His works are celebrated as some of the most influential and beautiful of all time. He had stiff competition—or should I say inspiration—as he painted during the time of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The three are often referred to together as the trinity of the Italian Renaissance. If you are thinking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you'd be right—their names are based on the artists of this period.

• Nicknames could include Raff or Rafie, spelled a variety of ways
• For 2008, Rafael is ranked at 238, while Raphael is at 630.
• Rafael is the name of a slew of Brazilian football players—meaning soccer players, of course!
• Rafael Ferrer is Rosemary Clooney's son (he is cousin to George Clooney)
• Celebrities to choose Raphael for their sons include: Juliette Binoche, Robert De Niro, and Helene Segara.