Raphaël
/ʁa.fa.ɛl/masculine
Raphaël is the French form of the given name Raphael.
Raphaël is a masculine given name. In written French, the name Raphael should have an acute accent on the second 'e' (é).
Meaning: given name (name)
Which one should you use?
Raph is an informal shortened version of the name, while Rafa is an informal affectionate variation.
How do you pronounce it?
The name has 3 syllables and is pronounced /ʁa.fa.ɛl/.
Did you know?
- Despite its Hebrew roots, the French spelling Raphaël employs the ph digraph, a remnant of the name's journey through Greek and Latin before entering the French language.
- In French tradition, Raphaël is recognized as one of the three archangels, often depicted as a healer and a guide for travelers.
- While Raphaël is a masculine name, the French language has a feminine version Raphaëlle which adds a final 'le' sound and a feminine spelling.
Examples in context
- Salut, Raph! Comment ça va?Hey, Raph! How are you?
- Coucou, mon cher Rafa!Hi, my dear Rafa!
- Je m'appelle Raphaël.My name is Raphaël.
- Est-ce que Raphaël est là ?Is Raphaël here?
Example conversation
Léa is introducing a friend to Hugo.
- LéaHugo, je te présente Raphaël.Hugo, I'd like you to meet Raphaël.
- HugoEnchanté, Raphaël !Nice to meet you, Raphaël!
- LéaIl est très sympa.He is very nice.
- HugoJe suis ravi de le connaître.I am delighted to know him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raphael” translations and entries Raphaël, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
