Rafe
Medieval spelling variant of Ralph.
Every Rafe since 1880 — 2,935 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rafe
Rafe is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,165 in 2025 with 179 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,935 American babies have been named Rafe. Its peak came in 2025, when 179 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rafe stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rafe year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 179 | #1,165 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1,312 |
| 2023 | 125 | #1,455 |
| 2022 | 123 | #1,475 |
| 2021 | 92 | #1,759 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2,042 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2,059 |
| 2018 | 61 | #2,253 |
| 2017 | 87 | #1,775 |
| 2016 | 87 | #1,771 |
| 2015 | 83 | #1,814 |
| 2014 | 94 | #1,650 |
| 2013 | 78 | #1,846 |
| 2012 | 76 | #1,904 |
| 2011 | 80 | #1,806 |
| 2010 | 66 | #2,063 |
| 2009 | 94 | #1,684 |
| 2008 | 48 | #2,619 |
| 2007 | 64 | #2,133 |
| 2006 | 56 | #2,274 |
| 2005 | 63 | #2,001 |
| 2004 | 54 | #2,186 |
| 2003 | 92 | #1,435 |
| 2002 | 99 | #1,341 |
| 2001 | 41 | #2,415 |
| 2000 | 14 | #5,254 |
| 1995 | 10 | #5,816 |
| 1990 | 22 | #2,938 |
| 1985 | 17 | #2,916 |
| 1980 | 5 | #7,037 |
| 1975 | 11 | #3,385 |
| 1970 | 20 | #2,042 |
| 1965 | 20 | #1,801 |
| 1960 | 17 | #2,022 |
| 1955 | 6 | #3,796 |
| 1950 | 9 | #2,728 |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,521 |
| 1925 | 8 | #3,333 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,275 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | 6 | #887 |
Famous people named Rafe
- Rafe Spall Actor · b. 1983
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rafe mean?
Medieval spelling variant of Ralph.
How popular is the name Rafe in 2025?
Rafe ranked #1,165 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 179 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rafe?
2,935 babies have been named Rafe in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rafe most popular?
Rafe peaked in 2025, when 179 newborns received the name.
Is Rafe a boy or girl name?
Rafe is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rafe rising or falling?
Rafe is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rafe?
Well-known people named Rafe include Rafe Spall (actor).