Cole vs Rafael
Cole and Rafaelcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cole was ranked #66 and Rafael #619 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Cole was ranked #142 and Rafael #234 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cole was ranked #169 and Rafael #215 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cole was ranked #185 and Rafael #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Cole and Rafael over time
Cole and Rafael appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Cole held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rafael in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Cole reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Rafael in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Cole #132 in 2020, Rafael #306 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cole held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rafael in 3.
Highest recorded here: Cole #125 in 2010, Rafael #181 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cole #169, Rafael #215.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Cole held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rafael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Cole #132 in 2020, Rafael #306 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cole #185, Rafael #329.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Cole | Rafael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #185 (2025) | Norway · Boys #328 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cole and Rafael both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Cole
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2009
Highest recorded position: #62 among boys in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1998–2009).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #185 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Rafael
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #181 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #328 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys