Holding steady, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Lafe since 1880
Babies named Lafe per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 54 |
| 1890s | 16 |
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 76 |
| 1920s | 87 |
| 1930s | 57 |
| 1940s | 49 |
| 1950s | 53 |
| 1960s | 61 |
| 1970s | 68 |
| 1980s | 76 |
| 1990s | 22 |
| 2000s | 27 |
| 2010s | 27 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Lafe is a rare American given name that originated as a nickname for Lafayette. It was first recorded in 1880 and reached its highest rank of 12,008 in 1884. Today, it is given to about 1 in 341,615 boys. The name has remained stable over time, never experiencing a revival or significant decline. Its geographic distribution is sparse, with no single state accounting for a majority of bearers. Lafe offers a concise, rustic alternative to its longer source name.
Lafe is a diminutive of Lafayette, a French surname derived from la fayette, 'the beech tree'. The name Lafayette was popularized in the United States by the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who aided the American Revolution. Lafe emerged as a standalone given name in the late 19th century, particularly in rural America, before declining in use after the 1880s.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Lafayette
Sibling names for Lafe
Names that share Lafe's style, for a brother or sister.
