Rafe

Rafe is a variant spelling of the name Ralph, which is derived from the Old Norse name Radulf. The name is composed of the Germanic elements 'rad' meaning 'counsel' and 'ulf' meaning 'wolf'.

The name Ralph was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. It became a popular name among the nobility and gradually spread to other classes of society.

While the original meaning of the name is 'wolf-counsel', it has evolved to be associated with qualities such as strength, resilience, and leadership.

The variant spelling 'Rafe' emerged in the 16th century and has remained in use as an alternative to the more traditional 'Ralph'.