What does Leroy mean?
From the Old French 'le roi', meaning 'the king', originally a Norman nickname or occupational byname. A literal 'the king' name.
What does Raphael mean?
Raphaël is the French form of Raphael, “God has healed.”
Leroy vs Raphael
Which is more popular?
Raphael is more popular than Leroy today: about 807 US babies were given the name Raphael in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
| Leroy | Raphael | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | the king | God has healed |
| Origin | french | French |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | luh-ROY | rah-fah-EL |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1882 |
| Peak year | 1924 (3,922) | 2025 (807) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 807 |
| Trend | Vintage | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leroy
Raphael
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leroy | Raphael |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,596 | 3,992 |
| 2010s | 2,173 | 4,722 |
| 2000s | 2,159 | 3,173 |
| 1990s | 3,554 | 2,952 |
| 1980s | 5,600 | 2,286 |
| 1970s | 8,408 | 1,762 |
| 1960s | 15,220 | 1,107 |
| 1950s | 24,588 | 893 |
| 1940s | 33,864 | 655 |
| 1930s | 36,255 | 688 |
| 1920s | 37,871 | 1,001 |
| 1910s | 21,275 | 767 |
| 1900s | 4,300 | 136 |
| 1890s | 2,544 | 96 |
| 1880s | 1,574 | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leroy or Raphael more popular?
Raphael is more popular than Leroy today: about 807 US babies were given the name Raphael in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
What is the difference between Leroy and Raphael?
Leroy means the king (french origin), while Raphael means God has healed (French origin).
Which name is older, Leroy or Raphael?
In US records, Leroy first appears in 0 and Raphael in 1882, so Leroy has the longer recorded history.