Rafaelita
A girl's name of Spanish origin with 72 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Rafaelita is a four-syllable girl's name with a open, warm sound — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. With only 72 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.
Rafaelita is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Rafaelita is a girl's baby name of Spanish origin, the Spanish feminine diminutive of Rafael, from the Hebrew Refa'el meaning 'God has healed.' Rafael is the archangel of healing in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The -ita ending adds an endearing, affectionate Spanish diminutive quality.
Rafaelita has the warmth and affection of Spanish diminutive names — like Rosita, Juanita, and Carlita — where the -ita suffix transforms a name into something intimate and tender. It carries the divine healing of its archangel root in a form full of love and Spanish cultural richness.
EtymologyShow more
Rafaelita is cataloged under the Spanish naming tradition. Spanish names often flow through Latin and Visigothic roots, shaped by centuries of Catholic tradition and Iberian culture.
In the U.S., Rafaelita has been recorded as a girl's name since 1900, with 72 total births. Browse the Spanish names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Rafaelita has 13+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1900.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 10 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 24 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1900s | 10 | — |
The Story of Rafaelita
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1921, Rafaelita is a name steeped in history. Girls named Rafaelita are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.
How rare is Rafaelita?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Rafaelita is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1900, peaked in the 1920s with 24 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Rafaelita by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(13 years, 1900–1953)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 6 | #5516 |
| 1947 | 5 | #5936 |
| 1946 | 5 | #5538 |
| 1934 | 5 | #4833 |
| 1933 | 6 | #4133 |
| 1932 | 6 | #4317 |
| 1926 | 5 | #5476 |
| 1924 | 5 | #5730 |
| 1922 | 5 | #5639 |
| 1921 | 9 | #3616 |
| 1918 | 5 | #5433 |
| 1903 | 5 | #2022 |
| 1900 | 5 | #2172 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1900–1953