Rafe
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Rafe
A top ranking choice in England and Wales, making frequent appearances on the Telegraph Announcments, Rafe feels equal parts rugged, amiable, and posh. Traditionally seen used a variant of Ralph (itself from the Old Norse Ráðúlfr), it came into use in the 17th century to reflect this particular pronunciation.
Rafe for boys#1165 US
Appearing in the UK Top 250, it could also work as a short form of Rafferty or Rafael.
Rafe for girls
Used almost exclusively for boys in England; Rafe would make for an amiable choice here -- whether as a nickname for Rafaela or standing on its own. This is one of the sleeker tomboy names for girls, alongside Drew and Indie.
Pronounced RAYF.
As of October 2026, Rafe ranked #1165 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #887 in 1880, Nameberry popularity #243.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,650 | 94 | 48.9 |
| 2015 | #1,814 | 83 | 43.3 |
| 2016 | #1,770 | 87 | 45.8 |
| 2017 | #1,775 | 87 | 47 |
| 2018 | #2,253 | 61 | 33.6 |
| 2019 | #2,058 | 71 | 39.6 |
| 2020 | #2,040 | 70 | 40.6 |
| 2021 | #1,759 | 92 | 52.6 |
| 2022 | #1,475 | 123 | 70.4 |
| 2023 | #1,454 | 125 | 73.1 |
| 2024 | #1,315 | 148 | 85.9 |
| 2025 | #1,165 | 179 | 104.8 |
World rankings
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Rafe on lists
Famous Rafes
- Ralph Nathaniel "Rafe" FiennesBoy
English actor
- Rafe Joseph SpallBoy
English actor
- Rafe CustanceBoy
New Zealand actor
- Rafe FurstBoy
American entrepreneur
- Rafe GomezBoy
American music producer
- Rafe JudkinsBoy
American reality TV personality ("Survivor") and TV writer
- Rafe MairBoy
Canadian lawyer and political commentator
- Rafe NeedlemanBoy
American journalist, editor and author
- Rafe StefaniniBoy
Italian folk musician
- Rafe VanHoyBoy
American songwriter
- Rafe Raccini WolfeBoy
Jamaican footballer
- Raphe BeckBoy
son of American TV personality and author Glenn Beck
Rafe in pop culture
- Rafe AdlerBoy
character from the "Uncharted" game series
- Rafael "Rafe" CovingtonBoy
character in book/movie "Crossfire Trail"
- Rafe DeedBoy
character in movie "Edison"
- Capt. Rafe McCawleyBoy
main character in movie "Pearl Harbor"
- Rafe HernandezBoy
character on American soap "Days of our Lives"
- Seamus Rafael "Rafe" GoldbergBoy
main character in "Openly Straight" by Bill Konigsberg
- RafeBoy
character from John Stephens' fantasy book series "The Books of Beginning"
- Rafe KhatchadorianBoy
character in the book and film "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life"
- Rafe CameronBoy
character in TV show "Outer Banks"
- Jaxon Tyrus Rafferty "Rafe"Boy
Character in Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles