Lafe
A boy's name of French origin with 690 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the male given name Lafayette.
Lafe is a boy's baby name of French origin, a diminutive of Lafayette, the great French hero of American independence. The Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834) was the French military officer who fought alongside George Washington in the Revolutionary War, and his name was widely honored in 19th-century American naming.
Lafe is the informal American nickname form of Lafayette — the same pattern as Fay for Fayette or Gus for Augustus. It carries a distinctly 19th-century American character, the kind of name you find in frontier journals and Civil War regimental records, with French aristocratic origins compressed into two cheerful American syllables.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Lafe belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, approachable ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the French naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring French names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Lafe’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lafe has 91+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | #11404 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 27 | #12638 | — |
| 2000s | 27 | #10460 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 22 | #8581 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 76 | #5093 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 68 | #4739 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 60 | #3014 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 53 | #3555 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 49 | #3381 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 57 | #3242 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 87 | #3259 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 76 | #2703 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 12 | #1129 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 16 | #1116 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 54 | #727 | — |
The Story of Lafe
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1884, Lafe is a name steeped in history. Boys named Lafe are most likely born between 1880 and 1894.
How rare is Lafe?
With 690 total births on record, Lafe remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 87 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lafe by the numbers
- Would fill 14 school buses
- Meeting one Lafe per day would take 1.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(91 years, 1880–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | #11404 |
| 2018 | 5 | #13317 |
| 2016 | 5 | #13383 |
| 2013 | 5 | #13245 |
| 2012 | 6 | #11646 |
| 2010 | 6 | #11598 |
| 2006 | 11 | #7230 |
| 2005 | 5 | #12550 |
| 2003 | 6 | #10325 |
| 2002 | 5 | #11735 |
| 1994 | 6 | #8348 |
| 1992 | 5 | #9233 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7833 |
| 1990 | 5 | #8910 |
| 1988 | 7 | #6161 |
| 1987 | 8 | #5237 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7342 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5495 |
| 1984 | 12 | #3582 |
| 1983 | 14 | #3161 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lafe a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lafe most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2020