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Baby names

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Original poster

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

39 replies

Sparklies · 12/05/2011 11:43

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.

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RitaMorgan · 13/05/2011 15:13

I would go for Gabriel or Flynn - both lovely.

I'm not massively keen on Raphael anyway, but it doesn't go with your other children's names at all.

ensure · 13/05/2011 15:06

I think Flynn goes best with your other two names!

TimeWasting · 12/05/2011 21:05

Prefer Raphael to Gabriel, but it doesn't go with Flynn.
Flynn as a first name sounds good with your other children's names, but not with either Raphael or Gabriel as a middle name.

shmoz · 12/05/2011 21:04

I love both names - my shortlist had slight Polish spelling variance of Rafal (pronounced Raff-ow).

I used to know a Raphael who was Spanish, his nn was Fally (which I thought was really cute)

triskaidekaphile · 12/05/2011 20:56

Raphael. Better to be an artist than an angel.:)

MercurySoccer · 12/05/2011 20:55

Gabriel.

Raphael is frilly.

emmanumber3 · 12/05/2011 20:52

Out of interest, do you always call your Catherine by her full name? Just asking as I'm guessing Catherine is the name you feel is a bit similar sounding to Flynn?

You may regret not going with Flynn in the future if Catherine ends up being a Katie Smile. Just a thought.

Yogagirl17 · 12/05/2011 18:32

If you hate Gabe then do not name him Gabriel as he WILL end being called it.

coolascucumber · 12/05/2011 18:23

I have a Flynn, it means 'son of the one with red hair'

robincousins · 12/05/2011 17:53

sparklies really feel for you we had to pick between 2 very similar names for dd one which dh loved one i loved . in the end we chose a completely different name and use the nn for dh's choice as her pet name and used both of the other 2 as middle names .still feel sad that i did n't stick to my guns and go with the name i loved . a year on still not sure we made the right decision.
maybe part of the reason your struggling is deep down you really want to call him flynn.
personally i think bethan , catherine and flynn sound lovely together .
sorry no help or advice to offer other than putting both names in a hat and drawing one .
fwiw they are both great names as is flynn which i'm sure doesn't help .

Fimbo · 12/05/2011 17:44

Could you not have Flynn as the first name? Flynn Gabriel sounds ok.

Maelstrom · 12/05/2011 17:08

I preffer Raphael but wouldn't use it with Flynn either. I don't like Gabriel much but I like the nickname Gabo.

Hope88 · 12/05/2011 17:04

Voting for Raphael.

We have a baby boy called Rafael. And we love the name. As you said you can play with the name so much. He is often called Raffy. Sometimes Raf, Rafiki etc. We had so many people saying to us what a lovely name it is.
I was not really thinking about nicknames before he was born but I think they are important. A lot of people call him by it and I would be quite upset if I didn't like it.
By the way he is blonde and has blue eyes and very English surname and it's all O.K.
I had that problem with girls names. I love the name Isabel but I was so worried people would call my baby girl Izzy. I really don't like that nickname. Or Natalie - Nat. Well it was a boy at the end!

evamummy · 12/05/2011 16:59

I think Bethan, Catherine and Flynn sound great together.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 12/05/2011 15:51

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

I like both equally :)

Original poster
Sparklies · 12/05/2011 14:48

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! Wink

OP posts:
emmanumber3 · 12/05/2011 14:26

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 Smile.

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 Grin.

evamummy · 12/05/2011 14:19

Another vote for Gabriel. Love it.

Raphael is ok but sounds a little pretentious.

Original poster
Sparklies · 12/05/2011 14:18

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..

OP posts:
BeattieBow · 12/05/2011 14:17

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

naturalbaby · 12/05/2011 14:15

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.

poppydaisy · 12/05/2011 14:06

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 Hmm.

ExitPursuedByALamb · 12/05/2011 14:06

Like Rafferty - a lot. Or Ranulph?

oohlaalaa · 12/05/2011 14:04

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

oohlaalaa · 12/05/2011 14:01

I vote for Gabriel