Raffaele

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A male given name of Italian origin, often associated with the archangel of healing and knowledge
2. A popular masculine name in Italy and among Italian-speaking communities, linked to religious and cultural significance
3. A name that evokes artistic connotations, frequently attributed to notable figures in art and theology throughout history

Etymology: Raffaele is the Italian form of a Hebrew name meaning "God heals," and it is the name of one of the seven archangels in Jewish and Christian tradition, the angel who guides Tobias in the Book of Tobit. The Hebrew name is usually read as "Rapha-El," combining "rapha," meaning healing, with "El," meaning God. The name passed into Italian as a personal name, and English speakers borrowed it in its Italian form. Because the archangel is linked to healing and to knowledge, the name carries those associations for many people, though the connection is a matter of religious tradition rather than of the name's linguistic meaning. The English form is "Raphael," and "Raffaele" is the Italian spelling that English-speaking families often keep when they want the name to sound Italian.

Synonyms: raphael