Lafayette Boy

Popularity: #931 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: lah-fay-ET /lɑːˈfeɪ.ɛt/

Origin: French; English

Meaning: French: 'the faith'; English: 'from the town of Lafayette'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lafayette has its roots in the Old French term "la Fayette," which translates to "the trust" or "the faith." The etymology can be traced back to the Latin word "fidelis," meaning faithful or loyal, which evolved through the Old French language. This name entered the English lexicon primarily through the influence of French culture and historical figures, particularly during the 18th century when the French played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, thereby introducing the name to English speakers.

A notable historical figure associated with the name is Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), a French aristocrat and military officer who became a key figure in both the American and French Revolutions. His contributions to the American cause, including his service under General George Washington, helped solidify the name's association with ideals of liberty and democracy.

Lafayette's legacy was further immortalized in various literary and historical works, including the writings of American authors and historians in the 19th century. Culturally, the name Lafayette has been embraced in various contexts, symbolizing loyalty and bravery, often linked to the ideals of the Enlightenment and the fight for freedom.

The name has also been adopted in place names, institutions, and monuments, particularly in the United States, reflecting the enduring impact of Marquis de Lafayette's contributions. The diminutive form "Fay" has also emerged in some contexts, though it is less commonly used.

Overall, Lafayette embodies a rich historical and cultural significance that resonates through its associations with key historical events and figures.

Famous people named Lafayette

In this section, you will find notable people named Lafayette. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lafayette who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Lafayette who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Lafayette is a military officer best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War and his friendship with George Washington.

Fictional characters named Lafayette

The following list of fictional characters named Lafayette is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Lafayette is a fictional character from the musical Hamilton. He is a French general who plays a significant role in supporting the American Revolution.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lafayette, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AlexanderBenjaminCharlesNathanielTheodoreWilliam

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lafayette. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

LaurentLucienJulienSebastienEmmettMalcolmGideonDominic

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lafayette was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Lafayette has ranked as high as #1458 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, California, Alabama, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Lafayette has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lafayette is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lafayette was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lafayette.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 7 7 0
2024 8 8 0
2023 10 10 0
2022 14 14 0
2021 15 15 0
2020 11 11 0
2019 10 10 0
2018 15 15 0
2017 8 8 0
2016 14 14 0
2015 10 10 0
2014 14 14 0
2013 18 18 0
2012 20 20 0
2011 15 15 0
2010 13 13 0
2009 12 12 0
2008 11 11 0
2007 16 16 0
2006 14 14 0
2005 14 14 0
2004 14 14 0
2003 18 18 0
2002 9 9 0
2001 17 17 0
2000 15 15 0
1999 20 20 0
1998 23 23 0
1997 27 27 0
1996 25 25 0
1995 31 31 0
1994 37 37 0
1993 29 29 0
1992 29 29 0
1991 35 35 0
1990 33 33 0
1989 33 33 0
1988 33 33 0
1987 36 36 0
1986 29 29 0
1985 47 47 0
1984 29 29 0
1983 29 29 0
1982 28 28 0
1981 42 42 0
1980 36 36 0
1979 35 35 0
1978 46 46 0
1977 37 37 0
1976 32 32 0
1975 26 26 0
1974 48 42 6
1973 55 55 0
1972 54 54 0
1971 34 34 0
1970 40 40 0
1969 35 35 0
1968 46 46 0
1967 56 56 0
1966 39 39 0
1965 50 50 0
1964 37 37 0
1963 54 54 0
1962 64 59 5
1961 47 47 0
1960 43 43 0
1959 36 36 0
1958 45 45 0
1957 38 38 0
1956 55 55 0
1955 61 61 0
1954 50 50 0
1953 52 52 0
1952 52 52 0
1951 56 56 0
1950 54 54 0
1949 54 54 0
1948 57 57 0
1947 45 45 0
1946 54 54 0
1945 54 54 0
1944 39 39 0
1943 38 38 0
1942 45 45 0
1941 49 49 0
1940 44 44 0
1939 41 41 0
1938 45 45 0
1937 51 51 0
1936 64 64 0
1935 49 49 0
1934 76 71 5
1933 60 60 0
1932 47 47 0
1931 56 56 0
1930 43 43 0
1929 46 46 0
1928 41 41 0
1927 43 43 0
1926 48 48 0
1925 60 60 0
1924 63 63 0
1923 53 53 0
1922 69 69 0
1921 86 86 0
1920 67 67 0
1919 66 61 5
1918 79 79 0
1917 65 65 0
1916 54 54 0
1915 51 51 0
1914 43 43 0
1913 41 41 0
1912 35 35 0
1911 13 13 0
1910 15 15 0
1909 11 11 0
1908 17 17 0
1907 21 21 0
1906 10 10 0
1905 8 8 0
1904 13 13 0
1903 13 13 0
1902 13 13 0
1901 5 5 0
1900 17 17 0
1899 9 9 0
1898 15 15 0
1897 18 18 0
1896 14 14 0
1895 23 23 0
1894 19 19 0
1893 9 9 0
1892 18 18 0
1891 8 8 0
1890 12 12 0
1889 16 16 0
1888 19 19 0
1887 24 24 0
1886 27 27 0
1885 23 23 0
1884 27 27 0
1883 11 11 0
1882 20 20 0
1881 21 21 0
1880 22 22 0

Top States for Lafayette (1998)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 6
100%