Given name & surname
Rafe
“a tough man”
Rafe is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “a tough man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “a tough man.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
In English usage, Rafe is a diminutive of Raphael.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rafe through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,935
- 2,935 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 179 babies
- 2025
- 179
- #1,165 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +78%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 179 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,165 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 77.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,002 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rafe’s family of names
In English usage, Rafe is a diminutive of Raphael. In English usage, Rafe has a related form in Ralph. Rafe has a related form in Raif.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Rafe has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Raphaelfull form · English
- Ralphvariant · English
- Raifevariant
- Rafadiminutive · English, Spanish
- Raifvariant
- Raefvariant
- Rafvariant
- Rayfevariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
People named Rafe
- Rafe SpallEnglish actor (born 1983)
- Rafe WolfeJamaican association football playerborn 1985
- Rafe MairCanadian politician (1931–2017)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rafe, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kade
“from the wetlands”
99% boys · 1% girls
Ronan
“resembling a little seal”
99% boys · 1% girls
Augustine
“one who is venerable; majestic” · “venerable; majestic”
94% boys · 6% girls
Rhys
“ardour” · “having great enthusiasm for life”
95% boys · 5% girls
Kane
“a warrior woman ready for battle” · “the little warrior”
>99% boys
Alastor
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% boys
Tadhg
“poet, philosopher”
>99% boys
Kieran
“having dark features; the little dark one”
97% boys · 3% girls