NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Rapheal

A masculine given name derived from the Hebrew meaning "God has healed".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rapheal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rapheal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Rapheal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rapheal ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 boys were registered as Rapheal.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rapheal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2008

3 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Rapheal mean?

The name Rapheal has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Rafa'el," which means "God heals" or "God has healed." The name is composed of two Hebrew words: "Rafa," meaning "to heal," and "El," which is a reference to God.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Rapheal can be found in the Book of Tobit, an ancient Jewish text from the Apocrypha. In this book, Raphael is depicted as an archangel who helps guide and heal the central character, Tobias. This association with an angelic figure has contributed to the name's enduring popularity among various religious traditions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rapheal or its variations. One of the most famous is Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520), the Italian Renaissance artist renowned for his masterpieces such as "The School of Athens" and "The Sistine Madonna." His works have left an indelible mark on the art world and continue to inspire artists to this day.

Another notable figure is Raphael Holinshed (c. 1525-1580), an English chronicler best known for his comprehensive work, "The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland." This work served as a significant source of inspiration for many of William Shakespeare's plays, including "Macbeth" and "King Lear."

In the realm of science, Raphael Meldola (1849-1915) was a British chemist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. His research on azo dyes and his work in promoting science education left a lasting impact.

In the realm of literature, Raphael Sabatini (1875-1950) was an Italian-British writer best known for his historical adventure novels, such as "Scaramouche" and "Captain Blood." His swashbuckling tales captured the imagination of readers worldwide and inspired numerous adaptations in film and television.

Lastly, Raphael Lemkin (1900-1959) was a Polish lawyer and linguist who coined the term "genocide" and played a pivotal role in the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. His tireless efforts to raise awareness about mass atrocities and promote human rights have left an enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rapheal over time

The chart below shows babies named Rapheal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Rapheal, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rapheal
01223200820152023

Decades

Rapheal by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rapheal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4991 3 1
2010s #4678 3 1
2000s #4432 3 1

Related

Names similar to Rapheal

FAQ

Rapheal: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rapheal in the UK right now?

In 2023, Rapheal was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rapheal most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Rapheal in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rapheal?

A masculine given name derived from the Hebrew meaning "God has healed".

How many people are called Rapheal in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Rapheal across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.