Boy · #6,387 in 2026

Rafer

Name: Popularity of the name Rafer in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Rafer, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#6,387

Peak Rank

#3,098 (1961)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1961

First Year

1982

Last Year

1961

Peak Year

#3098

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Rafer

Rafer first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1961, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 8 Rafers were born — ranking #3,098 that year. As of 2026, Rafer ranks #6,387 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 34 Rafers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Rafer

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rafer is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Reefer
Refer
Rougher
Roofer
Ruffer
Reifer
Riffer
Rifer
Refr
Raver
Rafe
Raif

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rafer

What does the name Rafer mean?

Rafer is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1961. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Rafer in 2026?

In 2026, Rafer ranks #6,387 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Rafer most popular?

Rafer reached its peak popularity in 1961, ranking #3,098 that year with 8 babies given the name.

Is Rafer a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Rafer is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Rafer?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rafer include Heliodoro, Phillipp, Bryne. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Rafer

Rafer is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1961 and has accumulated 34 births in the dataset. Rafer's peak popularity came in 1961 when it ranked #3,098. Use the chart and map above to compare Rafer's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.