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Just curious: is pronouncing Ralph as 'Rafe' actually a thing?

29 replies

MrsNuckyThompson · 18/11/2014 15:19

Or is it just Ralph Fiennes?

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HorraceTheOtter · 18/11/2014 15:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bowlersarm · 18/11/2014 15:20

It's a thing! Although not for all Ralph's.

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Hakluyt · 18/11/2014 15:22

Definitely a thing. But I was brought up, interestingly, to think of it as a very aspirqtional and therefore common "thing". Like Hyacinth Bucket calling herself Bookay.

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tammytoby · 18/11/2014 16:13

I know a couple of Ralphs/Ralfs and have only heard it pronounced as it is written, Ralf. Nice name!

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Sophronia · 18/11/2014 17:47

It is a thing, I prefer it pronounced as it is written though.

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Squtternutbaush · 18/11/2014 17:51

I know a few Ralph's and they're all pronounced as written.

I've only ever heard of the other pronounciation with Ralph Feinnes and I think some eejit from Made in Chelsea.

Much prefer it as written.

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ellenjames · 18/11/2014 17:54

Bit harsh on Ralph fiennes! He had to change the spelling I think but not sure but rafe should be spelt rafe and Ralph should be spelt Ralph! Love the name rafe x

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squoosh · 18/11/2014 17:54

I've always assumed it's a posh thing. I'd just spell the name Rafe and save a lot of hassle.

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mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 18/11/2014 17:54

I only know one vair posh (old posh, not pretend or just rich) and he's pronounced Ralph, not Rafe.

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squoosh · 18/11/2014 17:56

Seems as good a reason as any to post a picture as the lovely Mr Fiennes. He'd probably have you flogged if you called him 'Ralf'.

Just curious: is pronouncing Ralph as 'Rafe' actually a thing?
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BlueStarsAtNight · 18/11/2014 18:37

I've braver come across one written Ralph and pronounced Rafe. To me it sounds very pretentious to say it that way, I don't like it at all (sorry Mr Fiennes)

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brunette123 · 18/11/2014 18:41

Never met a Ralph pronounced Rafe - I also think it sounds pretentious - if it was spelt Rafe then fine. I met a Petra, spelt Petra, pronounced Pee-tra - again had never come across that before.

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BlueStarsAtNight · 18/11/2014 18:42

Ive never* come across one

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Hakluyt · 18/11/2014 18:46

"I've always assumed it's a posh thing"

It sounds that way- but actually it's the opposite. Interesting. I wonder how it happened?

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mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 18/11/2014 18:46

I once vaguely knew a mrs bucket type who called her sister, Patricia, Patreecia. And that's in Yorkshire.

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PrincessOfChina · 18/11/2014 18:47

You can't ever say Ralph (not Rafe) with a straight face if you've read Judy Blume's Forever anyway.

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Oakmaiden · 18/11/2014 18:48

I always thought Rafe was short for Raphael.

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Legohair · 18/11/2014 18:51

It's not pretentious or aspirational, in my experience it's a very trad. UC variant from people who may not have a bean but are very secure in their high social niche and have been for many generations.

If I (from the bottom of the proletariat) were to call my son Ralph- but-pronounced-Rafe, it would probably signal I was aspiring to higher things, on the other hand.

(As well as Mr Fiennes, there's also the actor Timothy Spall's actor son, but he writes it as 'Rafe'....)

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Colyngbourne · 19/11/2014 22:11

I thought it was the case that Ralph was always pronounced "Rafe" until the early C20th.

And no-one reads "Forever" these days.

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NotMyChashkaChai · 20/11/2014 20:39

I'd never heard of Ralph pronounced as 'ralf' before mumsnet! I thought all Ralphs were pronounced as 'rafe'!!

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EmilyGilmore · 21/11/2014 08:12

I know a baby Rafe, spelled that way too. His mother is forever fending off "Is his real name Ralph?". She spelled it that way precisely to avoid the Ralph thing. Failed.

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CaptainAnkles · 21/11/2014 08:14

To a whole generation it will always be a penis.

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doodlewitch · 21/11/2014 09:58

It's traditionally pronounced Rafe, yes

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AddToBasket · 21/11/2014 10:18

The name is 'Rafe'.
The penis is 'Ralph'.

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Hakluyt · 21/11/2014 10:25

The name is Ralph in Scotland, apparently.

And we don't know how the penis pronounced its name. It could have been Rafe..........Grin

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