Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1976, and is named for the Italian painter Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino).

[3] Unlike other Mercurian craters of similar size, Raphael is not multi-ringed.

[4] The crater Flaiano lies just south of the center of Raphael.

There is also a high-albedo area east of Flaiano, that is associated with irregular depressions.

[5] The depressions are similar to those within Navoi, Lermontov, Scarlatti, and Praxiteles.