Rafe

Rafe - A very unique male name

Rafe appeared on the charts for the first time in 1967 on position #1257. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rafe and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rafe? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Rafe. The baby boy name Rafe was given to 121 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1199 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 12,118 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rafe peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 1199.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rafe, 1-5?

Rafe is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rafe is currently topping the baby name charts in Utah at position #401 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,536.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Rafe is where you live.

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Rafe origin and meaning

English, traditional form of Ralph

Rafe is the historical English pronunciation-spelling of Ralph — Old Norse for 'counsel-wolf'

For centuries Ralph was pronounced 'Rafe' in England, and Rafe became a spelling in its own right. Long rare in America, it has climbed steeply since 2020 — from #2943 to #1199 — with the fashion for short, sharp British names. It can also serve as a short form of Rafael, but the Ralph line is its documented history.

Attested etymology

Rafe is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Rafe, pop culture references for the name Rafe and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Rafe

We've found the following names that sound similar to Rafe, sorted by popularity.

Robbie / Robby / Rob / Ravi / Robb / Ruby / Reef / Roby / Raffi / Ripp /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Rafe

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Rafe a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Rafe?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

RAYF · /reɪf/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Ralph — The name whose historical pronunciation Rafe spells; a separate established name.
• Raef — Occasional phonetic respelling.

Famous bearers

• Rafe Spall — English actor known for film and stage roles including Life of Pi (b. 1983) Contemporary

Style

ClassicShort formVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Rafe is having a genuine moment — a one-syllable name with centuries of English history that still feels undiscovered in America.

Worth knowing

• Often misheard as Rake or Wraith in quick introductions, and assumed to be short for Rafael.