Rafal

Meaning of Rafal

The masculine appellation Rafal, rooted in Polish onomastics, represents the vernacular form of the Hebrew name Raphael (Hebrew רָפָאֵל, rafaʾel), which etymologically conveys the theophoric meaning “God has healed” and is historically linked to the archangel celebrated in Judeo-Christian scripture; in its native setting it is phonetically realized as RAH-fahl. Analytical review of U.S. Social Security Administration records from 1977 through 2009 demonstrates that Rafal has occupied an infrequent position within Anglo-American naming practices, with annual male–birth counts oscillating between five and sixteen and corresponding ranks spanning from 674 (in 1977) to 898 (in 2009). Such data underscore its enduring rarity and suggest that its adoption within the United States has been largely confined to families of Eastern European descent or to those seeking to invoke the theological resonance of its archangelic heritage. Despite its modest presence in contemporary U.S. anthroponymy, the name Rafal conveys a dual heritage—merging spiritual gravitas with Polish cultural identity—while offering parents an appellation that is at once historically venerable and distinctively rare.

Pronunciation

Polish

• Pronunced as RAH-fahl (/'ra.fal/)

• Raphael
• Raffael
• Raffaello