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Rafa

OriginArabic
Meaning"happiness, prosperity"
GenderBoy & girl
US rank · girlsUnranked

Below 5 births

US rank · boys#5557

2025 SSA

About Rafa

Sounds a bit like a shortening of Rafael or a condensation of Rafaela, but Rafa is a name in its own right. Whether you use it as a full name or a nickname, Rafa's casual coolness could allow it to follow in the footsteps of other tomboy names for girls, like Billie and Scout.

Rafa for boys#5557 US

Rafa is an adorable short form introduced to the world by actors Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, who used the name for their second son. Rafael is the Latin cognate of the Hebrew boys' name Raphael, but you don't need to be a Rafael to be a Rafa.

Pronounced RAH-fuh.

As of October 2026, Rafa ranked #14829 in US births in 2024 SSA, peaked at #10141 in 2021.

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Rafa on lists

Famous Rafas

  • Rafa Cannavale (b. 2017)Boy

    son of American actor Bobby Cannavale and Australian actress Rose Byrne

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