Rafa
Primarily a boy's name of Hebrew origin with 121 recorded births. Also given to 67 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the female given name Raphaela, variant of Raffa. A diminutive of the male given name Raphael, variant of Rafe.
Rafa is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Raphael or Rafael, meaning 'God has healed.' Known across the world through tennis legend Rafael Nadal — universally called Rafa — this nickname-name carries the energy of athletic excellence and Mediterranean warmth.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Rafa's final sounds are open, warm — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Rafa softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Rafa's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Rafa has 11+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2011.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 74 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 47 | — |
The Story of Rafa
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2023, Rafa is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Rafa are most likely born between 2013 and 2024.
How rare is Rafa?
Only about 1 in every 211,765 babies born in 2024 was named Rafa — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2011, peaked in the 2020s with 74 births that decade.
Rafa by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(11 years, 2011–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 | #5586 |
| 2023 | 20 | #5014 |
| 2022 | 19 | #5172 |
| 2021 | 10 | #8017 |
| 2020 | 8 | #9341 |
| 2019 | 10 | #8069 |
| 2018 | 8 | #9463 |
| 2016 | 5 | #13717 |
| 2015 | 7 | #10364 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8707 |
| 2011 | 8 | #9398 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Rafa as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Rafa has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 67 births since 1998.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rafa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Rafa most popular?
How popular is the name Rafa?
Can Rafa be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2011–2024