Rafe
Boy name · #1165 in 2025 · Uniqueness 35/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Rafe scores 35 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rafe is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rafe is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Rafes were CA (13), FL (12), TX (12), UT (12), NC (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 35/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.