Raphael, of Hebrew origin, signifies 'God has healed'. It is one of the four archangels mentioned in the Bible, along with Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel. The name Raphael was popularized by the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, where Raphael appears as a benevolent angel who accompanies Tobias on his journey.
In the visual arts, Raphael is perhaps best known for the painter Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520), an Italian master of the High Renaissance. His works include iconic pieces like "The School of Athens" and "The Transfiguration". The name Raphael has also been associated with other notable figures, such as the Swiss mathematician Raphael Bombelli (1526-1572) and the French physicist Raphaël du Carla de Towar (1894-1930).
In popular culture, Raphael is often depicted as a youthful figure with blue eyes and fair hair. He appears prominently in various religious artworks, literature, and media. Today, Raphael remains a timeless name that has been adopted by people across the globe, carrying with it a rich historical and cultural heritage.
The name Raphael experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a peak of 12 births in 1979 and a recent decline to as few as 5 births in several years since the late 1960s.