What does Raphael mean?
Raphaël is the French form of Raphael, “God has healed.”
What does Remi mean?
Rémi comes from the Latin Remigius, “oarsman.”
Raphael vs Remi
Which is more popular?
Raphael is more popular than Remi today: about 807 US babies were given the name Raphael in 2025, compared with 323 named Remi.
| Raphael | Remi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God has healed | Oarsman |
| Origin | French | French |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | rah-fah-EL | ray-MEE |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1882 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2025 (807) | 2021 (360) |
| In 2025 | 807 | 323 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Raphael
Remi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Raphael | Remi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,992 | 1,955 |
| 2010s | 4,722 | 1,235 |
| 2000s | 3,173 | 389 |
| 1990s | 2,952 | 198 |
| 1980s | 2,286 | 100 |
| 1970s | 1,762 | 81 |
| 1960s | 1,107 | 80 |
| 1950s | 893 | 52 |
| 1940s | 655 | 33 |
| 1930s | 688 | 5 |
| 1920s | 1,001 | 34 |
| 1910s | 767 | 23 |
| 1900s | 136 | 0 |
| 1890s | 96 | 0 |
| 1880s | 28 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Raphael or Remi more popular?
Raphael is more popular than Remi today: about 807 US babies were given the name Raphael in 2025, compared with 323 named Remi.
What is the difference between Raphael and Remi?
Raphael means God has healed (French origin), while Remi means Oarsman (French origin).
Which name is older, Raphael or Remi?
In US records, Raphael first appears in 1882 and Remi in 1915, so Raphael has the longer recorded history.