Lafayette
Meaningfrom the beech grove · French
- US rank
- #9,714
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #325 in 1886
7 babies were named Lafayette in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,680 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Lafayette you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 243,902 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Lafayette, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Lafayette would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLafayette has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Lafayettes, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1886, when it ranked #325. Today it's #9,714, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendLafayette has slipped 2,680 places over the last five years and now sits at #9,714. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn French, Lafayette means “from the beech grove”.
About the name Lafayette
Lafayette is a boy name of French origin meaning “from the beech grove”. It has 9 letters and 3 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-tte”. US birth records list Lafayette for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1886, when it ranked #325 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #9,714, with 7 babies.
Origin:French names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 192 | 5,208 boys |
| 1890s | 126 | 7,946 boys |
| 1900s | 93 | 10,726 boys |
| 1910s | 69 | 14,432 boys |
| 1920s | 52 | 19,106 boys |
| 1930s | 50 | 19,936 boys |
| 1940s | 33 | 30,618 boys |
| 1950s | 25 | 40,177 boys |
| 1960s | 24 | 41,152 boys |
| 1970s | 24 | 41,000 boys |
| 1980s | 19 | 53,937 boys |
| 1990s | 15 | 67,522 boys |
| 2000s | 7.0 | 142,857 boys |
| 2010s | 7.3 | 137,363 boys |
| 2020s | 6.3 | 160,000 boys |
More French boy names
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Daniel · God is my judge
- Unisex name: Gabriel · God is my strength
- Unisex name: Wyatt · brave in war
- Boy name: Charles · free man
- Unisex name: Beau · handsome
- Boy name: Robert · bright fame
Questions about the name Lafayette
What does the name Lafayette mean?
Lafayette means “from the beech grove” in French.
What is the origin of the name Lafayette?
Lafayette has French roots in our records. Other French names include Sebastian, Leo, Daniel.
Is Lafayette a boy or girl name?
Lafayette is a boy name.
How popular is the name Lafayette?
Lafayette ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1886 (#325).