Still stuck between two names and now two weeks old! Help!

[Sparklies]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my first thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1208667-8-days-old-and-at-this-rate-were-going-to-be-stuck-with-Nigel-Help

Baby boy is two weeks old now (took us three weeks to name DC1 so we're not doing so badly..) and we really have narrowed it down to two names - Raphael and Gabriel with possibly "Flynn" as a middle name. Not really considering any other first names at this point.

Raphael pros:

• Love the nicknames (Rafe/Raffi etc) and feel they suit him
  
• It's quite unusual
  
• Love the meaning ("God has healed") as it reflects the journey to get him
  
  Raphael cons:
  
  
• Doesn't go so well with our existing children's names
  
• Might sound a bit "foreign" - baby boy is fair skinned and has red hair but I've heard people say they think of a Raphael as dark haired at the very least - often a bit Mediterranean in appearance.
  
• Does not go as well with "Flynn"
  
  --
  
  Gabriel pros:
  
  
• Love the long version
  
• Goes with our other children's names better as it sounds less "foreign" despite both of these names being almost identical in origin
  
• Goes better with "Flynn"
  
  Gabriel cons:
  
  
• I really, really HATE "Gabe", and "Gabby" sounds too feminine - this is my big issue really
  
• It's a lot more common, especially in the US where we may move (#24 or something)
  
• Sounds more religious and we're not religious
  
• The name meaning doesn't mean a whole lot to me
  
  This is so hard! Honestly, it was easier to decide whether or not to get an amnio than it was picking his name..
  
  Any thoughts welcome!! We're pretty much stuck and need something to help tip us one way or the other without regrets.

[Suncottage]

Go to the bottom of your stairs and shout both names out as if you are calling him down for dinner in a few years time.

Which one sounds right?

[Noop]

I vote for Raphael! I love the meaning.

We chose our DCs names based on what they were likely to be called and what suited them. And it took us 5 and a half weeks to name DS1! We narrowed it down to Rory and Dominic and ended up using both names. We decided Rory suited him better and so Dominic became his middle name.

[pinkhebe]

I know a Gabriel, but he's known as Gaby (Gay-bee) which is much less feminine sounding as Gabby (gabb-ee), He is so not feminine

I also like Raffy

[seeker]

I think I would go for Raphael because Gabe is horrible and any other shortening sound too girlish, and Raff is OK

But I think they both sound a bit....Islingtonish, sorry!

[Katyrah]

I'd go for Raphael purely because you sound more enthusiastic about the meanings and the actual name, who cares if people think it sounds foreign!

[timetomove]

What about Rafferty - you can still use Raff/Raffy. Name sounds more Irish than Meditterranean so might suit his colouring better?

What are the names of your other DCs in case that helps us?

Also what about Flynn as the first name?

[tammytoby]

"But I think they both sound a bit....Islingtonish"

Is this good or bad ?

[tammytoby]

I like both but prefer Gabriel. Good solid name imo.

[hellojude]

Why not go with Rafferty / Rafe instead of Raphael?

If you hate the nn's for Gabriel, IMO that would right it off the list. As no matter how hard you try it will become Gab's etc.

[FoxyRevenger]

I think you prefer Raphael yourself secretly

[PfftTheMagicDragon]

I prefer Gabriel, but prefer the shortened versions of Raphael. I don't like Raphael. I like Rafferty though.

[robincousins]

love both but prefer gabriel wiyh your other dcs names

[flopsy1974]

If you don't like gabe then I would definately go for Raphael as I don't think you can avoid shortenings to most boys names. Good luck choosing.

[coolascucumber]

Why don't you just call him Rafe? Rafe Flynn sounds great. Raphael a bit elaborate. Too Ninja turtles. Gabriel OK but the kids will need to be cool to carry it off

[oohlaalaa]

I vote for Gabriel

[oohlaalaa]

ooh, I prefer Rafferty to both Raphael and Gabriel. I like Raphael, it just didnt seem right for a red headed little boy.

[ExitPursuedByALamb]

Like Rafferty - a lot. Or Ranulph?

[poppydaisy]

If you're British and in the UK I prefer Gabriel - lovely strong name imo. The one I know gets called by his full name, so far anyway.
Raphael sounds very Spanish to me and I too associate dark haired boys/men with this name.

Not sure either whether 'Islingtonish' is good or bad, by the way .

[naturalbaby]

I love Gabriel but I chose religious names for my kids. Reading your cons list I think Raphael will suit you more. DS3's name doesn't go as well as ds1 & ds2's names go together.

DS2 was almost 6 weeks old till we registered his name. We went with the 1st one we chose in the end and even spent a couple of weeks calling him a different name to see what suited.

[BeattieBow]

From your post it seems that you prefer Raphael. fwiw i like both of them!

[Sparklies]

Thanks everyone! Food for thought as always!

I quite like Rafferty, but DH has vetoed it so that's a no unfortunately :(

Foxy is right in that I do prefer Raphael, but I'm being held back by the cons. DH prefers Gabriel! I guess I'm hoping for something that will sway either DH or me over to the other side.

"Gay-bee" is not a bad NN and one I hadn't thought of, although as always I am wary of the whole "gay" nn issue.. but children get teased regardless. Poor baby is already doomed with his hair colouring (why?!!! I love red hair. Grrr!) and if he inherits my dreadful-but-now-fixed teeth I think his name will be the least of his problems..

[evamummy]

Another vote for Gabriel. Love it.

Raphael is ok but sounds a little pretentious.

[emmanumber3]

Imagine yourself saying each name over & over again for the rest of your life. Which one do you think you'll get sick of first? Choose the other .

As I said on your first thread, I like Flynn best of all 3 possible names. If Flynn is a definite for middle name it probably would fit best with Gabriel. But then again, if you prefer Raphael how many times would people use the full "Raphael Flynn Lastname" anyway?

This baby naming business is harder than it looks .

[Sparklies]

We do like Flynn, but the trouble is we have a Bethan and a Catherine and "Flynn" sounds too close. Can't decide if that matters a lot or not!

Currently we're almost thinking of calling him "Gabriel" with the nickname "Raffy" just to be silly!

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I knew a Raphael when I was growing up and he was a rugged aul' Irishman, nothing foreign about him!

I like both equally :)