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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Fabian or Raphael (Rafe for short)

39 replies

FunnysInTheGarden · 04/09/2010 00:11

which do you like?

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perfumedlife · 11/09/2010 14:11

Neither, Fabian has way too many socialist think tank connotations for me.

gingerali · 11/09/2010 12:42

Raphael - Raffie for short

Greensleeves · 11/09/2010 12:38

Raphael, Raffie for short

love it

EleFunTess · 11/09/2010 12:37

Fabian is wet.

Rafe is OK, but I have seen it spelled Raeph more commonly and never short for Raphael.

QueeferSutherland · 11/09/2010 10:44

I knew a female Fabian.
Fabia?

5DollarShake · 06/09/2010 11:24

Fabian is definitely a boy's name. Fabienne is a girl's name.

Neither names are to my taste, although I love Rafe. I would probably go with Raphael, as the nn Rafa is also quite sweet.

Original poster
FunnysInTheGarden · 05/09/2010 22:06

aye the Fabian Soc was a decider for us Grin

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QueeferSutherland · 05/09/2010 20:56

Ooh I bloody love Fabian, being the lefty that I am.

lifeas3plus1 · 05/09/2010 20:31

gorionine Yes definitely spelt Fabian.

Although, not having known another one, I never knew it was pronounced Fay-Be-Un and girl from school pronounced it Fab-ian.

I do actually think it's quite nice though now I know how it's pronounced.

Original poster
FunnysInTheGarden · 05/09/2010 15:06

luckily we live practically in France and so pronunciation etc is no problem. Our Fabian is Fay Be Un and is the Latin version. Raphael is the northern european version.

shoobido I also really like Florian, but would have been a bit flowery I think

OP posts:
sayanything · 05/09/2010 10:54

Raphael, but then I'm biased Smile. Our DS is Rafa for short, though, not Rafe.

IHeartKingThistle · 05/09/2010 10:14

Not keen on Fabian.

Love Raphael (could spell it Rafael if you're going to shorten it to Rafe? Think that's how they spell it in Spain). Taught one of those last year who was a fabulous child! His mates did all call him Rafa though, which suited him too!

gypsycurlytots · 05/09/2010 10:07

Raphael isn't a french name it's a biblical name of an archangel, along with Gabriel and Micheal. He is associated with the role of healing.
I absolutely love it, but i am biased as it's DS1's name! We always get comments on what a beautiful name it is.

Minxie1977 · 04/09/2010 21:53

Neither for me either

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 04/09/2010 21:51

I really like Fabian and Rafe, not keen on Raphael

and Cote - isn't it Fabien (pronounced fa-bi-en) in france?

Ineed2 · 04/09/2010 21:47

I came upon this thread by mistake but FWIW I worked with a boy called Fabian about 15 years ago, he was lovely, but a bit naughty.. lol

Sequins · 04/09/2010 20:32

Fabe + ian. It is not just French, it has Latin origins.

Raff ay el. This is biblical anyway.

Not that bad surely Cote?

Quenbioz · 04/09/2010 20:31

Not keen on either, but Fabian is preferable.

CoteDAzur · 04/09/2010 20:28

Both are French names and I shudder a little bit to think about how Fabian would be pronounced in the UK.

Sequins · 04/09/2010 20:27

I think Fabian is quite normal among African Americans actually. Not that that matters or makes any difference to anything, just that's what I read when I wanted to use the name.

jabberwocky · 04/09/2010 20:24

Sorry, but neither. I'm in the US though, so I know we have different preferences. On that note, not sure where here Fabian would be considered normal. There's a singer called Fabian who always comes to mind, kind of 60's, wavy hair, very good teeth sort of guy.

Sequins · 04/09/2010 20:19

There are a few little Rafes for Raphael round here (Sarf London) - would definitely not raise a snigger.

gorionine · 04/09/2010 17:42

There is a little Rafe in My Dd's nursery he is a very nice ans sweet little boy.

Lifeas3plus1 are you sure of the spelling? the only girl's name I can think off that sounds like Fabian is Fabienne.

lifeas3plus1 · 04/09/2010 17:36

Raphael.

I went to school with a girl called Fabian and I've never known another so I always thought it was a girls name. Blush

Thissideofchannel · 04/09/2010 15:29

I really like both, but slightly prefer Fabian. But Raphael is lovely too.

BoojaB, what is 'nauseating' about a middle class area Confused?