Rafaela
Girl name · #2900 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rafaela? In official American birth records, Rafaela has been tracked continuously since 1887, giving it 138 years of documented American history.
Rafaela is currently the #2900 girl name in the United States — 58 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3915, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 girls born in 2025 was named Rafaela.
The 138-year story
Rafaela first appears in the Social Security records in 1887, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 60 girls were named Rafaela — good for #2868 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rafaela per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rafaela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rafaela in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rafaela is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rafaela will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rafaela is most common
State-level data for Rafaela is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Rafaela
Statistically, parents drawn to Rafaela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anela, Dariela, Aniela, Estela, and Adela.
AnelaDarielaAnielaEstelaAdelaIzabelaMarcelaNeela
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rafaela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2895 |
| 2024 | 53 | #3047 |
| 2023 | 48 | #3329 |
| 2022 | 48 | #3313 |
| 2021 | 40 | #3735 |
| 2020 | 47 | #3281 |
| 2019 | 55 | #2962 |
| 2018 | 45 | #3438 |
| 2017 | 32 | #4384 |
| 2016 | 45 | #3464 |
| 2015 | 38 | #3915 |
| 2014 | 41 | #3719 |
| 2013 | 31 | #4543 |
| 2012 | 35 | #4216 |
| 2011 | 60 | #2868 |
| 2010 | 34 | #4306 |
| 2009 | 41 | #3800 |
| 2008 | 35 | #4360 |
| 2007 | 27 | #5230 |
| 2006 | 26 | #5233 |
| 2005 | 32 | #4267 |
| 2004 | 28 | #4707 |
| 2003 | 22 | #5419 |
| 2002 | 24 | #4906 |
| 2001 | 21 | #5364 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rafaela?
In official American birth records, the name Rafaela first appeared in 1887 (over 138 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rafaela a popular girl name?
Rafaela ranked #2900 among girls in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3915.
When was the name Rafaela most popular?
Rafaela peaked in 2011, when 60 American girls received the name (ranked #2868 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rafaela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American girls was named Rafaela. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.