Rafa
/ˈrɑː.fə/noun
An informal given name, usually a shortened form of Rafael or Rafaela.
Did you know?Rafa ultimately belongs to the same Hebrew name family as Raphael, whose biblical meaning combines healing with the divine name El, meaning God.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
רְפָאֵל (Rəfāʾēl)
“A personal name meaning “God has healed” or “God heals.””
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Ῥαφαήλ (Rhaphaḗl)
“Greek rendering of the Hebrew personal name.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Raphael
“Latin form of the archangel’s name.”
Medieval Period
Romance languages
Rafael / Rafaela
“Forms of the biblical name used in Spanish, Portuguese, and related languages.”
Modern English usage
English
Rafa
“A familiar short form of Rafael or Rafaela, also used as a personal name in its own right.”