Rafe
Rafe was the 1165th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 179 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 887th; the most babies were born in 2025 (179). Over the last ten years it has moved up 649 places. More babies were named Rafe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,165 boys, up 877 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 179boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025179 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,935babies recorded
Rafe popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,165 | 179 |
| 2020 | #2,042 | 70 |
| 2010 | #2,063 | 66 |
| 2000 | #5,254 | 14 |
| 1990 | #2,938 | 22 |
| 1980 | #7,037 | 5 |
| 1970 | #2,042 | 20 |
| 1960 | #2,022 | 17 |
| 1950 | #2,728 | 9 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #3,521 | 7 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | #887 | 6 |
How popular is Rafe, counting every spelling?
Rafe has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,104 for boys in 2025, against #1,165 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Rafe?
179 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Rafe (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Rafe born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 47 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Rafe.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Rafe?
About 2,700 people born in the US named Rafe are alive today, with a median age of 14; half are between 6 and 24. That makes Rafe mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Rafe by state
How common Rafe was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (6.0×), Louisiana (2.8×). In 30 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Rafe: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Rafe, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Rafe
How popular is the name Rafe?
Rafe was the 1165th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 179 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 887th; the most babies were born in 2025 (179). Over the last ten years it has moved up 649 places. More babies were named Rafe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Rafe a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Rafe in the US.
Where is Rafe most popular?
In 2021–2025, Rafe was most common in Utah (0.46 per 1,000 boys), followed by Louisiana and Idaho.