Rafa
Rafa is a masculine given name, mostly as a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Rafael. It may refer to:
- Spanish
Meaning & Origin of Rafa
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rafa is a masculine given name, mostly as a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Rafael. It may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Spanish
The Story of Rafa
As a girl name
American parents first put Rafa on the record books as a girl name in 1998, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 10 Rafas were born — ranking #9,562 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 36% of all recorded Rafas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 67 Rafas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Rafa as a boy name dates back to 2011, when 8 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 22 newborns named Rafa — #4,654 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 71% of all recorded Rafas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,654 among boy names with 22 births, rising sharply (+118% over the past five years). In total, more than 163 Rafas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rafa
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rafa. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Rafa
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Rafael Nadal (born 1986), Spanish tennis player
- Rafa (footballer, born 1985) , Spanish footballer Rafael López Gómez
- Rafael Benítez (born 1960), Spanish football manager and former player
- Rafa Cabrera-Bello (born 1984), Spanish golfer
- Rafa Gálvez (born 1993), Spanish footballer
- Rafa Gil (born 1975), Spanish football manager
- Rafa Gómez (born 1983), Spanish footballer
- Rafa (footballer, born 1970) , Spanish retired football goalkeeper
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Rafa
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rafa is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rafa
What does the name Rafa mean?
What is the origin of the name Rafa?
How popular is Rafa in 2026?
When was Rafa most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rafa most popular?
Is Rafa a unisex name?
What names go well with Rafa?
What are nicknames or variants of Rafa?
About the name Rafa
Rafa is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2011 and has accumulated 163 births in the dataset. Rafa's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #4,654. Use the chart and map above to compare Rafa's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.