Rafe
Boy name · #1165 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Rafe? In official American birth records, Rafe has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 179 baby boys were named Rafe, placing it at #1165 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1804, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,056 boys born in 2025 was named Rafe.
Babies named Rafe per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Rafe first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 179 babies and a rank of #1165. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rafe against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rafe in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rafe is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rafe will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rafe is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rafe is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Rafe is most common in UT (0.6 per 1,000), NC (0.2 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Rafe is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Rafe
Statistically, parents drawn to Rafe tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rune, Wylie, Roan, Rami, and Ryle.
RuneWylieRoanRamiRyleZadeRayneRenzo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rafe | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 179 | #1165 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1308 |
| 2023 | 125 | #1449 |
| 2022 | 123 | #1468 |
| 2021 | 92 | #1750 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2042 |
| 2018 | 61 | #2230 |
| 2017 | 87 | #1768 |
| 2016 | 87 | #1763 |
| 2015 | 83 | #1804 |
| 2014 | 94 | #1641 |
| 2013 | 78 | #1827 |
| 2012 | 76 | #1891 |
| 2011 | 80 | #1795 |
| 2010 | 66 | #2057 |
| 2009 | 94 | #1665 |
| 2008 | 48 | #2583 |
| 2007 | 64 | #2117 |
| 2006 | 56 | #2248 |
| 2005 | 63 | #1983 |
| 2004 | 54 | #2164 |
| 2003 | 92 | #1430 |
| 2002 | 99 | #1332 |
| 2001 | 41 | #2386 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rafe?
In official American birth records, the name Rafe first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rafe a popular boy name?
Rafe ranked #1165 among boys in 2025 with 179 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1804.
When was the name Rafe most popular?
Rafe peaked in 2025, when 179 American boys received the name (ranked #1165 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Rafe?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,056 newborn American boys was named Rafe. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.