I named my son Raphael. I like that it’s a name that’s easy to travel with because it’s so well known globally. It’s classic and familiar but not outdated or old fashioned at all. I also like that it’s masculine but softer sounding and that it doesn’t get misheard. He’s still young but I hope when he grows up he likes the name we gave him.
― Anonymous User 11/4/2023
5
Rafael and this name are both great. I personally prefer the Rafael spelling but this spelling is great too.
Angelic, a soft boy name yet so strong. The meaning “heals” is beautiful, a perfect name for a baby after loss or a hard time. The nickname Raffi is cute for a little boy too. I love this name, and also Gabriel.
Raphael Bob-Wakesberg- Comedian, writer and producer who was born on August 17, 1984 in San Mateo, California. Notable work would be the animated Netflix series known as Bojack Horseman.
My name is Raphael and when I was a child I didn't liked this name, for some reason the PH in it, just didn't please me. My parents have told me that they wanted to put Rafael, but it was too boring. My Grandma suggested the name with PH and they liked it. In school people made a mock of me pronouncing RAPAEL. I took inspiration on Raffaello Sanzio a Renaissancist painter/architect, he has some nice paintings, and the Renaissance- what a great time for humankind. Well the other inspiration is Latin because my language came from Latin vulgar, when I had this curiosity to learn and see if was similar or not, I started to like it. Very nice name. I'm a privileged person.
Raphael Gualazzi is an Italian singer who represented his country in the 2011 Eurovision with the song "Madness of Love". Being one of the Big 5 (Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and France) he automatically qualified to the final. He made it to the Top 10.
It's a good name. I do like the name so, so much and it's my name and my friends are calling me Raphaeldo. It's the best name that I know about.
― Anonymous User 12/17/2016
9
I also pronounce this 'ra-FAI-el''ra' in rap, 'fai' in file, 'el' in bell. If someone said 'ra-feh-el' ('feh' rhymes with 'day') or 'ra-fa-el' ('fa' rhymes with 'pa') I would consider these correct as well.I'm really surprised it wasn't listed under pronunciations.
The angel Raphael is called "Israfil" in Islam. It is written as "إسرافيل" in Arabic and is pronounced "is-RA-feel".
― Anonymous User 10/18/2015
-2
I've always liked Raphael (pronounced rah feye el) because I've always associated it with strength (probably a result of the archangel with the same name (I'm not Christian though) but still retains a softer sound than other names that are 'strong' sounding.
I like that it was the name of an artist and archangel, even though I'm not religious. It seems really refined and cultured. My grandfather was Rafael, from Poland. The name also worked well for him when he moved to Cuba, as it's popular in Latin America. He was never called by a nickname, but I actually like Rafi or Raffey.
― Anonymous User 8/15/2015
10
I believe the pronunciation "rah-fie-EL" should also be added as this a common way of saying this name in English speaking countries.
― Anonymous User 4/26/2015
1
Raphael is a handsome, sexy, classy masculine beauty of a name. The nickname Raph is cute. Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an awesome namesake. I love how this is a name of an angel. Other angel names that I would totally recommend are Azrael, Michael & Gabriel. (:
― Anonymous User 3/21/2015
14
The Pre-Raphaelite paintings are some of my favorites.
According to greek-names.info the name Raphael is not very common in Greece, but it is used in Lesvos because of Saint Raphael of Lesvos, a 15th century martyr who is venerated in the Orthodox Church.
― Anonymous User 7/26/2012
2
Raphael (born 1976) is the oldest son of actor Robert De Niro.
All I think of when I hear this is San Raphael. I've heard it pronounced RAH-fie-el and ruh-FEL, the first one by people (mostly young adults/teenagers/kids) who want to pronounce it correctly, and the second by people (always adults) who are too lazy to say three syllables.
My name is Rafael (with an "L" - Brazilian), and I never knew exactly how to pronounce it in English, until now. But it still sounds a little weird. Here we say "ra-fa-EL", vowels pronounced just like written.
One of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Raphael wears the red bandana and carries two sai.
― Anonymous User 10/9/2008
6
I agree with the already mentioned pronunciations of rah-FAY-el and ra-FIE-el - where I'm at, the pronunciation would more likely be the former, which is my preferred pronuncation of it, but I've heard the latter before, as well.Also, in my accent (I'm from LP Michigan) Raph doesn't rhyme with cough - the vowel sounds are definitely different ('ah' like in 'ma' or 'pa' for Raph, 'aw' like in 'raw' for cough).
― Anonymous User 8/12/2008
1
So you're calling the first name of the second best, soon to be best, tennis player in the world has a horrible hideous name? I don't think Raphael Nadal agrees, nor his fans!
― Anonymous User 6/29/2008
0
I love Raphael. Although I hate the nickname that every Raphael I've met has used: Rafi. Sigh.
My brother's name is Raphael (Ra-fee-el, we pronounced it). This is a dangerous choice, because it shortened to "Raph", rhyming with "cough". Mom teased me for barking when I called his name too much. "Ruff, Ruff!"
I also pronounce it ra-fie-EL - despite what the name's entry says, this is a fairly common way of saying it in English speaking countries (sort of a mish-mash of the first English pronunciation and the French one).
― Anonymous User 9/29/2006
5
I am planning on naming my son this. It is very handsome, in my opinion. I pronounce it "rah-fie-EL" -- middle syllable rhymes with "lie" or "dye".
I'm guessing that is thrown as an insult or saying it is a feminine looking name. If you ask me I think the name Rachel is a very masculine looking name especially since it ends in el.