Rafe is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #5450 in 1996 with 11 recorded births. This places Rafe in the bottom 48% of ranked US boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 179 births ranking #1165. In 1996, approximately 1 in every 172,203 boys born was named Rafe. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Rafe is a lean, understated short form usually linked to Raphael, so it generally carries the meaning God has healed. It feels old-fashioned and sharp in a good way.
The name has existed as a shortened form for a long time, but its modern charm comes from sounding compact and slightly literary. It is a short name with more depth behind it than first appears.