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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lafayette

Lafayette

♂ Boy

Pronounced lah-fay-ET /lɑ.feɪˈɛt/Medium

Meaning: From the French surname/place-name La Fayette — variously 'the beech grove/wood' (from Old French fay, 'beech'); borne by the Revolutionary hero the Marquis de LafayetteLow

In 30 seconds: From a French place-name (the beech grove): Lafayette. Stately, classic, and warm (said 'lah-fay-ET').
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Origin LowFrench
MeaningFrom the French surname/place-name La Fayette — variously 'the beech grove/wood' (from Old French fay, 'beech'); borne by the Revolutionary hero the Marquis de Lafayette
U.S. rank (2025)#10262 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,861

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lafayette comes from the French surname/place-name La Fayette — variously 'the beech grove/wood' (from Old French fay, 'beech'). Borne by the Revolutionary hero the Marquis de Lafayette. A stately, classic name (said 'lah-fay-ET').

In the U.S. it honors the Marquis de Lafayette, ally of the Revolution. Rare, the-beech-grove at the root, and stately.

Did you know? Lafayette is a French surname/place-name, variously 'the beech grove' — borne by the Revolutionary hero the Marquis de Lafayette, and stately (said 'lah-fay-ET').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Lafayette — French place/surname

Variations

FayetteLa Fayette

Nicknames

FayLafe

Famous Bearers

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If you like Lafayette…

Lamar— a companion La- boys' name
Leland— a sound-adjacent place-name boys' name
Lamonte— shares the -te ending
Avante— lands in the same popularity range
Laramie— another French name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lafayette mean?

Lafayette is a French surname/place-name, variously 'the beech grove'; borne by the Marquis de Lafayette.

How do you pronounce Lafayette?

It's said lah-fay-ET /lɑ.feɪˈɛt/ — three syllables, stress on the third.

Is Lafayette a boy or girl name?

Lafayette is a boy's name.

How popular is Lafayette?

Lafayette is a very rare name in the U.S.

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