Rafaela
Girl name · #2900 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rafaela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rafaela in class?
Rafaela scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rafaela is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rafaela is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Rafaelas were TX (9), CA (8), FL (8), NY (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Rafaela
Based on popularity-curve shape, era, and phonetics, the nearest stylistic neighbors of Rafaela are Anela, Dariela, Aniela, Estela, Adela — useful as a shortlist if Rafaela is close but not quite it.
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
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. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.