Rafael
Rafael is ranked 222nd among boys in 2024 (1,614 births). Its best rank was 195th, in 1985.
- Rank in 2024
- #222up 9 from 2023
- Births in 2024
- 1,6140.09% of boys
- Peak year
- 20061,702 births
- Best rank
- #195in 1985
- Since 1880
- 87,725people given the name
The story in the numbers
87,725 boys have been named Rafael in the United States since 1880, according to Social Security records. The busiest single year was 2006, with 1,702 births.
It has never been more used than now: its record year is 2006, within the last few years of data.
Half of everyone given the name was born by 1993, and the 2000s alone account for 17%. It has spent 142 of 145 years in the top 1,000.
Rank among boys, year by year
By decade
| Decade | boys named Rafael | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 65 | |
| 1890s | 84 | |
| 1900s | 172 | |
| 1910s | 608 | |
| 1920s | 1,701 | |
| 1930s | 1,402 | |
| 1940s | 1,833 | |
| 1950s | 3,954 | |
| 1960s | 6,286 | |
| 1970s | 9,592 | |
| 1980s | 12,274 | |
| 1990s | 14,370 | |
| 2000s | 15,037 | |
| 2010s | 12,790 | |
| 2020s | 7,557 |
In 2006, its biggest year
Rafael was the 217th most given boy’s name that year. The top five boys’ names of 2006 were Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Ethan and Matthew. See all of 2006.
Names that rose and fell with Rafael
Same sex, most similar popularity curve over 145 years, in five-year steps — the shape of the line, not the size.
- Lazaropeak 2004
- Ramseypeak 2017
- Marcellpeak 1991
- Vicentepeak 2023
- Dimaspeak 1996
- Agustinpeak 2001
- Paulopeak 2006
- Romeropeak 2019
What this page does not tell you. The Social Security data records how many babies were given a name, not what the name means or where it comes from — so neither do we. Counts cover people with a Social Security number; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld. More on the data.