Fun Facts About the Name Raef
- 380 babies named Raef: U.S. records list 380 babies given the name Raef from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Raef Mean?
Raef is an Arabic masculine name meaning "compassionate" or "kind." It represents the Arabic رائف (rāʾif), an active participle from the root ر-أ-ف (r-ʾ-f), which has the sense of showing compassion or pity. The literal sense is "one who shows compassion"; "compassionate" is the usual English rendering. The same root gives the related name رؤوف (Raʾūf), often translated "Most Kind" or "Most Compassionate" and used as one of the names of God in Islamic tradition.
Raef Name History & Origins
The name belongs to the Arabic naming tradition, in which participles such as rāʾif can serve as personal names. Latin-alphabet spellings vary - Raef, Ra'ef, Ra'if, and Raif - because Arabic short vowels and the hamza are handled differently in transliteration. The Turkish form Raif comes from the same Arabic name and is established in Turkish usage. The spelling Raef is used in Arabic-speaking countries and among Muslim communities elsewhere; it should not be confused with the English name Rafe, a short form of Ralph, which has a separate history.
How Popular is the Name Raef?
Raef has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2002. Its best rank was #2,589 in 2002.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,717 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #9,637 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #7,186 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #8,154 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #9,479 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #13,578 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #8,068 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #9,461 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #7,994 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #6,632 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,907 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #8,626 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #5,118 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #5,915 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #5,880 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #5,966 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #4,246 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2008 | #9,646 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #4,336 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #6,376 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #5,806 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #4,955 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #3,603 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2002 | #2,589 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2001 | #6,810 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #9,598 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #7,376 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #10,435 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,266 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1966 | #4,385 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Raef Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Raef's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Raef's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.