Rafan

Meaning of Rafan

Rafan is a masculine given name of contested but principally Semitic provenance, frequently construed either as a contracted form of the Hebrew name Raphael—derived from רָפָה (rapha), “to heal”—or as an adaptation of the Arabic root ر-ف-ع (r-f-ʿ), “to elevate”; in either case, the name evokes associations of restoration, loftiness and dignified restraint. Pronounced rah-FAHN (/rɑˈfɑn/), it appears sparingly in United States birth records, where its annual occurrence has fluctuated modestly within the lower tier of the top one thousand male names—ranging from a peak of seventeen newborns in 2015 (rank 898) and a notable position at rank 868 in 2011, to only five recorded instances in 2021 (rank 929)—thereby reflecting intermittent but persistent adoption. Its concise two-syllable structure, coupled with classical semantic underpinnings, affords parents seeking both distinctiveness and a measured gravitas an appealing option. From an onomastic standpoint, Rafan exemplifies contemporary tendencies to distil venerable linguistic roots into streamlined appellations that balance historical resonance with modern phonetic economy.

Pronunciation

• Pronunced as rah-FAHN (/rɑˈfɑn/)

• Rafael
• Rafay