Total births
34
Boys' name · since 1961
Rafer
Since 1961, U.S. Social Security records show 34 babies named Rafer, peaking in 1961. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 34
- total births
- 1961–1982
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 71%
- born in that decade
Rafer is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 34 have been recorded since 1961.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rafer has been recorded 34 times among boys since 1961, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1961 to 1982.
- 34 total births
- 1961–1982 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 71% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
34 boys have been named Rafer since 1961, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1982.
- 34
- total births
- 1961–1982
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 71%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
71% of everyone ever named Rafer was born in this single decade.
1961
Single peak year
8 babies were named Rafer in 1961 - its busiest year on record.
Rafer's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Rafer's full recorded timeline at 1969, 44% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 56% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1967, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1961 peak of 8 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Rafer at a glance
Last recorded 1982Peak year
1961
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1961
Rafer popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1961–1982
- Peak year (1961)
- 8
- Annual births at peak, across 22 years of records
Rafer by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Rafer's strongest decade.
24 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 71% of all-time use.
Rafer births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s
1960s
24 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 24 births (71% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rafer? ▼
34 babies have been named Rafer since 1961. It was last recorded in 1982. The peak year was 1961 with 8 births.
When was Rafer most popular? ▼
Rafer was most popular in the 1960s decade with 24 total births. The single peak year was 1961.
How long has the name Rafer been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Rafer since 1961 -- 22 years through the most recent 1982 data.
What names are similar to Rafer? ▼
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 Rafer's data
- Rafer's decade-level peak was the 1960s (24 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Rafer
Nearby Names Like Rafer
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rafer
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 Rafer side by side: Rafer vs Rafael Rafer vs Rafe Rafer vs Raffaele
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1961–1982 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rafer: Baby Name Since 1961 - 34 Births, Peak 1961." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rafer. 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 Rafer 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.