Rafaela
Rafaela was the 2922nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 58 babies. Its best year was 1903, when it ranked 807th; the most babies were born in 2011 (60). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,047 places. More babies were named Rafaela in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,922 girls, up 404 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 58girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201160 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,516babies recorded
Rafaela popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,922 | 58 |
| 2020 | #3,326 | 47 |
| 2010 | #4,379 | 34 |
| 2000 | #5,643 | 20 |
| 1990 | #4,194 | 24 |
| 1980 | #3,291 | 26 |
| 1970 | #3,538 | 18 |
| 1960 | #2,706 | 21 |
| 1950 | #1,429 | 42 |
| 1940 | #1,630 | 24 |
| 1930 | #1,192 | 40 |
| 1920 | #1,344 | 35 |
| 1910 | #1,101 | 17 |
| 1900 | #1,886 | 6 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Rafaela, counting every spelling?
Rafaela is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,400 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,922 for Rafaela on its own. Together these spellings went to 140 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafaela | 58 | #2,922 | 247 |
| Rafaella | 32 | #4,437 | 193 |
| Raffaella | 18 | #6,497 | 88 |
| Raphaella | 24 | #5,362 | 82 |
| Raphaela | 8 | #11,702 | 57 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Rafaela?
58 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Rafaela (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Rafaela born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 144 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Rafaela.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Rafaela?
About 2,200 people born in the US named Rafaela are alive today, with a median age of 33; half are between 13 and 59. That makes Rafaela mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Rafaela by state
How common Rafaela was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (2.7×), New York (1.8×), California (1.6×). In 47 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Rafaela: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Rafaela, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Rafaela
How popular is the name Rafaela?
Rafaela was the 2922nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 58 babies. Its best year was 1903, when it ranked 807th; the most babies were born in 2011 (60). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,047 places. More babies were named Rafaela in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Rafaela a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Rafaela in the US.
Where is Rafaela most popular?
In 2021–2025, Rafaela was most common in Florida (0.08 per 1,000 girls), followed by New York and California.