Rafaela Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rafaela is a feminine name with Hebrew origins, meaning 'God has healed'. It evolved from the male name Raphael, with variants appearing in various languages. The name is associated with healing and divine intervention and gained popularity in the 20th century. It is often viewed positively in modern contexts, linked to compassion and grace, with biblical significance due to its connection to the archangel Raphael.
The name Rafaela is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rafaela has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Rafaela' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1209th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1478th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2151st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3182nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4139th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4539th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3593rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Rafaela' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rafaela"
Pronunciation
/ræˈfeɪlə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Rafaela is derived from the Hebrew name Raphael, which means 'God has healed'. The feminine form, Rafaela, reflects the same meaning and is often associated with healing and divine intervention.
Meaning
God has healed
Language Evolution
Raphael (Hebrew), Rafaela (Spanish/Italian), Rafaela (Portuguese)
Biblical Background
The name has biblical roots as it is related to the archangel Raphael, who is considered a healer in religious texts.
Historical Usage
Rafaela gained popularity in various cultures, particularly in Spanish and Italian-speaking countries, during the 20th century as a feminine counterpart to Raphael.
Variants & Derivatives
Rafa, Rafaella, Rafie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rafaela is perceived as a beautiful and elegant name, often associated with kindness and healing qualities.
Famous People
Rafaela Pimenta, Brazilian lawyer and agent, Rafaela Silva, Brazilian judoka and Olympic medalist
Explore More Rafaela Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rafaela"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rafaela"
"Rafaela" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1209th of 9107 | 692 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1478th of 9204 | 507 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2151st of 12526 | 501 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3182nd of 19264 | 344 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4139th of 27321 | 362 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4539th of 35406 | 472 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3593rd of 30306 | 522 |
Regional Popularity of "Rafaela" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rafaela" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
89.20% 1230th/1379 |
31.23% 739th/2366 |
52.71% 602nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
100.00% 1556th/1556 |
36.38% 856th/2353 |
55.53% 859th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
62.51% 1519th/2430 |
40.87% 1166th/2853 |
57.73% 1602nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
68.39% 2382nd/3483 |
55.51% 1953rd/3518 |
41.79% 1690th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
75.62% 3384th/4475 |
68.81% 3574th/5194 |
32.56% 2057th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
93.37% 4278th/4582 |
67.82% 3502nd/5164 |
57.75% 4223rd/7313 |
43.84% 3272nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
53.49% 2400th/4487 |
41.20% 2811th/6822 |
42.18% 2647th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rafaela"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rafaela" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.