Boy · #12,135 in 2026

Rafel

Name: Popularity of the name Rafel in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Rafel, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#12,135

Peak Rank

#3,071 (1970)

Total Babies

125

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1922

First Year

2013

Last Year

1970

Peak Year

#3071

Peak Rank

125

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Rafel

Rafel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1922, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1970, when 10 Rafels were born — ranking #3,071 that year. As of 2026, Rafel ranks #12,135 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 125 Rafels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Rafel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rafel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Raffle
Raphel
Rifle
Ruffle
Riffle
Rueful
Riffel
Rifl
Reifel
Rafle
Roffel
Refel

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rafel

What does the name Rafel mean?

Rafel is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1922. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Rafel in 2026?

In 2026, Rafel ranks #12,135 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Rafel most popular?

Rafel reached its peak popularity in 1970, ranking #3,071 that year with 10 babies given the name.

Is Rafel a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Rafel is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Rafel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rafel include Lebaron, Pharoah, Reade. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Rafel

Rafel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1922 and has accumulated 125 births in the dataset. Rafel's peak popularity came in 1970 when it ranked #3,071. Use the chart and map above to compare Rafel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.