Rafe Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rafe is an Old English name meaning 'counsel' and 'peace'. It evolved from 'Rǽgfrið' through historical forms such as 'Raf' in Old French to its modern form. The name conveys traits of wisdom and tranquility. It does not have biblical relevance and gained popularity in the Middle Ages, with a resurgence in contemporary times. Variants include Ralph and Raif, and it is currently viewed as a trendy choice.
The name Rafe is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rafe has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Rafe' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3783rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4363rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3262nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2603rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3281st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2180th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1720th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rafe' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rafe"
Pronunciation
/reɪf/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Rafe is derived from the Old English name 'Rǽgfrið', which combines the elements 'rǽg', meaning 'counsel' or 'advice', and 'frith', meaning 'peace'.
Meaning
counsel, peace
Language Evolution
Rǽgfrið (Old English), Raf (Old French), Rafe (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Rafe gained popularity in the Middle Ages as a variant of the name Ralph. It has seen a resurgence in modern times, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Ralph, Raif, Raff
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rafe is perceived as a unique and somewhat trendy name, often associated with a creative or artistic personality.
Famous People
Rafe Spall, an English actor, Rafe Judkins, an American writer and producer
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rafe"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rafe"
"Rafe" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3783rd of 7545 | 73 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4363rd of 6773 | 42 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3262nd of 7552 | 121 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2603rd of 10718 | 227 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3281st of 16616 | 270 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2180th of 24088 | 885 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1720th of 23106 | 1,119 |
Regional Popularity of "Rafe" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
54.72% 1925th/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
44.61% 2044th/4582 |
- |
36.41% 2663rd/7313 |
30.51% 2277th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
50.60% 2016th/3984 |
64.54% 2896th/4487 |
29.43% 2008th/6822 |
28.51% 1789th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rafe" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rafe"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rafe" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.