Rafe
Rafe is a given name for a male used in many countries across the world. If the name is English, Scandinavian or German it is of Old Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse Raðulfr through Old English Rædwulf. When the name is Spanish, Portuguese or Hebrew it is often a short form of Rafael.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Rafe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rafe is a given name for a male used in many countries across the world. If the name is English, Scandinavian or German it is of Old Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse Raðulfr through Old English Rædwulf. When the name is Spanish, Portuguese or Hebrew it is often a short form of Rafael.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Rafe
Rafe first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 164 births, good for #1,225 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 29% of all recorded Rafes. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,225 among baby boy names with 164 births, rising sharply (+88% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Rafes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rafe
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rafe. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Rafe
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Rafe de Crespigny (born 1936), Australian sinologist, professor and writer
- Rafe Esquith , American award-winning elementary school teacher
- Rafe Furst , American entrepreneur and poker player, founder of Full Tilt Poker
- Rafe Gomez (born 1961/1962), American music producer
- Rafe Judkins (born 1983), American contestant on Survivor and television writer
- Rafe Mair (1931–2017), Canadian lawyer, political commentator and former radio personality and politician
- Rafe Needleman , American editor and author
- Rafe Spall (born 1983), English actor
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Rafe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rafe is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rafe
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How popular is Rafe in 2026?
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In which U.S. states is Rafe most popular?
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About the name Rafe
Rafe is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Rafe's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #809. Use the chart and map above to compare Rafe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.