Lafayette

The first name Lafayette, which is male, is derived from an eponymous French surname. Metaphorically, it can be translated as 'the one descended from the little beech tree'.

What does the name Lafayette mean?

The name Lafayette comes from the eponymous French surname and is interpreted metaphorically as 'the one descended from the little beech tree'. Its roots lie in the Occitan word 'Lafayette', which stands for 'little beech tree', as well as in the Old French term 'faie', meaning 'beech'. In the USA, Lafayette was used as a boy's name in the late 18th century to honor Marquis de Lafayette, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. In English, the term 'lafayette' is translated as 'the doll fish'. In the mid-19th century, Lafayette was a common first name in the USA. Variants of the name include Fayette and Fayetta. Additionally, the Parisian department store Galéries Lafayette is well-known.

Where does the name Lafayette come from?

The etymology of Lafayette is both Old French and Occitan in nature, with the meaning 'the little beech tree'. The Old French term 'faie' stands for 'beech', while 'lafayette' means 'the doll fish' in English.

How do you pronounce Lafayette?

La-fya-t

Popularity

In Germany, Lafayette is a rather rare first name. In 2014, it ranked 3,829th on the list of the most common male first names. Between 2010 and 2024, Lafayette was given as a first name in Germany less than 10 times, which catapulted it to 9,082nd place. In the last ten years, no child has been named Lafayette. Information on the global popularity and frequency of Lafayette can be found in the name charts of various countries.

Famous people

• Marie Joseph Motier Marquis de LaFayett (French nobleman, politician, and drafter of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen)
• Lafayette Ron Hubbard (American science fiction author and founder of the Scientology sect)