Total births
138
Unisex name · since 2011
Rafa
138 babies named Rafa in U.S. Social Security records since 2011, with the highest year being 2023. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #5623
- among boys today
- 138
- born since 2011
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 61%
- more common than other boys
138 babies have been named Rafa since 2011, making it today's #5623 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Rafa recorded 138 times among boys since 2011, holding rank #5623 nationally today, ahead of 61% of boys, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 2011 to 2025.
- #5623 among boys today
- 138 born since 2011
- 2020s peak decade
- 61% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rafa is currently the #5623 unisex name in America, more common than 61% of boys - 138 born since 2011, peaking in the 2020s.
- #5623
- among boys today
- 138
- born since 2011
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 61%
- more common than other boys
Rafa vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5623
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 61% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
66% of everyone ever named Rafa was born in this single decade.
2023
Single peak year
20 babies were named Rafa in 2023 - its busiest year on record.
How Rafa compares
138 31th percentile among 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Rafa's all-time total is 62% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rafa | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 138 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 20 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rafa's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Rafa's SSA record in two at 2020 and the more recent half accounts for 66% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 34%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 2016, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2023 peak of 20, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Rafa at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2023
Current rank
#5,623
Active since
2011
Rafa popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 2011–2025
- Peak year (2023)
- 20
- Annual births at peak, across 15 years of records
Rafa popularity over time - girls
67 total births recorded since 1998 (Rafa as girls' name)
Rafa by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Rafa's strongest decade.
91 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 66% of all-time use.
Rafa births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 2010s
2010s
47 births
- 2020s
2020s
91 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 91 births (66% of all-time use).
Rafa by state
Where Rafa concentrates geographically, total births since 2011
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 6 | 4.3% |
| #2 | Florida | | 5 | 3.6% |
California share of Rafa's total US births 4.3%
Even split
6 of 138 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rafa? ▼
Rafa has been given to 138 babies in the U.S. since 2011, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #5623 as of the latest data. 20 babies were born in 2023, its single highest year.
When was Rafa most popular? ▼
Rafa was most popular in the 2020s decade with 91 total births. The single peak year was 2023.
Where is Rafa most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rafa are California (6 births), Florida (5 births).
Is Rafa a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Rafa is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 138 births, and as a girl's name it has 67 births.
How long has the name Rafa been used? ▼
Records for Rafa go back to 2011, giving 15 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Rafa? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rafael, Rafe, Raffaele, Rafeal, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rafa's data
- California records the most Rafas (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Rafa
Nearby Names Like Rafa
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rafa
Rafael Boy
#222 89,379 births
Rafe Boy
#1310 2,935 births
Raffaele Boy
#5259 1,079 births
Rafeal Boy
925 births
Raffi Boy
#6547 839 births
Compare Rafa side by side: Rafa vs Rafael Rafa vs Rafe Rafa vs Raffaele
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rafa
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 2011–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rafa: #5623 Unisex Name - 138 Births, Peak 2023." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rafa. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rafa draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.