רְפָאֵל
Rafael means “God heals”
Rafael is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
In Jewish tradition Raphael is the angel of healing.
- In Hebrew
- רְפָאֵל
- On an ID card
- רפאל
- In English letters
- Rafael
- Other English spellings
- Refael, Raphael, Rephael, Rafail, Refa'el
- Other Hebrew spellings
- רפאיל
- Meaning
- God heals
- Origin
- Biblical
- Given to
- Boys
- Gematria value
- 311
30,882 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Rafael.
- 205 of them are women and girls, and 30,677 are men and boys.
- 1,374 of them were born in 2022, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 6,527, against 2,031 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is growing.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: רפאיל. The chart shows the spelling רפאל alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Rafael is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling רפאל today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 205 | 12 | 406 of 678 |
| Jewish boys | 30,570 | 1,352 | 4 of 541 |
| Muslim boys | 8 | 0 | – |
| Christian Arab boys | 68 | fewer than 5 | – |
In 2024, Rafael ranked 4 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Rafael in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Rafael.
What does the name Rafael mean?
Rafael means “God heals”. Rafael is a boy's name of Biblical origin. In Jewish tradition Raphael is the angel of healing.
Is Rafael a boy's name or a girl's name?
Rafael is mainly a boy's name. Of the 30,882 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 205 are women and girls and 30,677 are men and boys.
How do you write Rafael in Hebrew?
Rafael is written רפאל in Hebrew. With vowel points it is written רְפָאֵל. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: רפאיל.
How many people in Israel are named Rafael?
30,882 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Rafael today. The most were born in 2022. In 2024, Rafael ranked 4 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.