Given name & surname
Raffaele
“one who is healed by God”·“the divine healer”
Raffaele is a form of Raphael. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who is healed by God.” Raffaele is a variant of Raphaela. In Hebrew use, Raphaela carries the interpretation “the divine healer.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Raffaele is a form of Raphael. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who is healed by God.” Raffaele is a variant of Raphaela. In Hebrew use, Raphaela carries the interpretation “the divine healer.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Raffaele is a form of Raphael. An origin associated with Raphael is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Italian use, Raffaele is used as a form of Raphael.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1908. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Raffaele through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,079
- 1,079 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1969
- 24 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #5,002 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,002 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 24 in 1969. In 2025, New Jersey had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,420 as a first name in 2020; 901 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Raffaele’s family of names
Raffaele shares a linguistic root with Raphael. In Italian usage, Raffaele has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Rafael. Raffaele is a form of Raphael.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Raffaele has relatives in 5 languages.
4 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Raffaele
- Raf ValloneItalian actor (1916-2002)
- Raffaele PalladinoItalian footballerborn 1984
- Raphael GualazziItalian singer and pianist (1981-)
- Raffaele FarinaCatholic cardinalborn 1933
- Raffaele RiarioItalian Catholic cardinal (1461-1521)
- Tito SchipaItalian tenor (1889-1965)
- RafItalian singerborn 1959
- Raffaele FittoItalian politicianborn 1969
- Raffaele CadornaItalian general (1815-1897)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Raffaele, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rahman
“one who is full of compassion”
>99% boys
Ritchie
“a powerful ruler”
>99% boys
Alfonzo
“prepared for battle; eager and ready”
>99% boys
Roderick
Roderick has Germanic roots, with later Scottish and Welsh uses that follow different paths.
>99% boys
Randal
“the wolf shield”
>99% boys
Robby
“one who is bright with fame”
>99% boys
Richie
“a powerful ruler”
96% boys · 4% girls
Donnell
“ruler of the world; a brown-haired warrior”
>99% boys