Raphael

God has healed; also rendered ‘God heals’.

Raphael is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning ‘God has healed’, also rendered ‘God heals’. It combines the healing root rafa with el, ‘God’. The meaning is a statement within the name, rather than simply a label such as ‘healer’. In the Book of Tobit, Raphael is the angel who accompanies Tobias on his journey. That connection gives the name a spiritual dimension for families who value it, alongside the appeal of its sound. English pronunciations include /ˈɹæf.i.əl/ (RAF-ee-uhl), /ˈɹæf.eɪ.ɛl/ (RAF-ay-el) and /ɹɑ.fɑɪ.ˈɛl/ (rah-fy-EL). The ph has an f sound. The first form feels softer and more compact; the alternatives give the vowels more space. Raphael’s formal spelling can therefore sit beside quite different spoken rhythms, a useful choice to settle if its sound is part of the appeal.

Etymology: From Hebrew Rafa'el, combining a root for healing with el, ‘God’, transmitted through Greek and Latin.