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Baby names

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Is Ralph that BAD?

64 replies

xmasevebundle · 17/10/2012 13:27

I did a thread on here a while ago, apart from the judy blume(i didnt know who it was until i did the threadHmm) and the simpsons link,

Is it really that bad?

I really love it, it feels right. Peoples comments are putting me off when i say what im calling himSad

He would be Ralph charlie..

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derekthehamster · 17/10/2012 20:22

Just think Ralf Schumacher

derekthehamster · 17/10/2012 20:22

I know a 12 yr old called Ralf. He's never been teased over his name.

MJandherdog · 17/10/2012 20:19

Rightly or wrongly I always visualise a person with the name and when I hear Ralph I see a geeky, boring man wearing a tank top. Oh and a penis...sorry!

alpinefresh · 17/10/2012 18:00

Ralph makes me think of vomiting. i know i'm childish and purile, but hey, so are a lot of people.

xmasevebundle · 17/10/2012 17:58

Charlie is one of my middle names, my grandads name so it has got meaning to it.

I do think you either love it or hate it, nice to see what everyone thinks good and bad!

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yousankmybattleship · 17/10/2012 17:21

Sorry, I do think it is dreadful. When I was growing up it was a euphamism for puking! Charlie is one of those horror names in the school playgrounds. Too many of them and they're all little buggers.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 17/10/2012 17:17

I have to admit that as soon as I hear it I think of Forever and the nick named penis.

PickledFanjoCat · 17/10/2012 17:16

It's not to everyone's taste but it's an actual normal name.

People will get used to it quickly and it won't matter a bit!

MoonHare · 17/10/2012 17:11

I know a 3yr old Ralph. I was a bit surprised at the name choice at first but got used to it very quickly. No-one has ever made any rude comments as far as I know.

I read the Judy Blume book in question about 25 years ago and had completely forgotten about 'ralph' until reading this thread! I doubt the book would be that popular with teenagers these days.

If you love it go with it, ultimately it doesn't matter what others think and it's not a name that'll hinder his life.

Ham69 · 17/10/2012 17:04

No, it's really not that bad. I quite like it and can imagine it on a grown man too. Go with your instincts. If you love it, go for it. Once people meet a cute little baby it'll soon grow on them. There are far, far worse names out there.

meditrina · 17/10/2012 17:03

It's a perfectly good name.

But to live with it, you need to be unfazed at the prospect of correcting people who default to the other pronunciation to the one you choose, and not mind the vomit association.

xmasevebundle · 17/10/2012 16:52

Ralph is SLANG for being sick. Slang isnt 'real english'

I do know the connection too, never heard of it either. I live in SW, not up north.

I think its either you love or hate itGrin

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BananaBubbles · 17/10/2012 16:46

It is that bad.It's bloody awful.An incredibly unattractive name,unless it's pronounced as 'Rafe'.There's the vomiting association too.

Arithmeticulous · 17/10/2012 16:26

It's also the noise you make when you vomit.

Dogsmom · 17/10/2012 16:24

I really don't it, it's a term for sick in this area (midlands) 'feeling ralph'.

As a name I don't think it's 'old man chic enough', I imagine Ralph with Cedric, Horace and Bert.

Bluestocking · 17/10/2012 15:03

I always think of Ralph Malph in Happy Days .

zombieplanmum · 17/10/2012 14:44

Its a great name - i called my bike ralph

evamummy · 17/10/2012 14:43

Why are people worried about an random penis named Ralph in a book written many years ago. I'd hot heard of the book, and most current children will not be reading it (it's american, I think). What about names like Will/Willy or Benedict/Bendy Dick - those are far more penisy than Ralph imo!

I know a cool Ralph who's about 16 now and so I like the nameSmile. Once you meet a lovely real life Ralph any Judy Blume associations will vanish instantly imo.

xmasevebundle · 17/10/2012 14:38

I am not with the babys father, so the choice is all mine!

Is it getting popular now? I haven't met a ralph.

As op said its a penis in a book, i have never heard it but im not an avid reader and i doubt that my sons classmates will be reading judy blume..

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PosieParker · 17/10/2012 14:24

Yuck. Sorry.

femmeaufoyer · 17/10/2012 14:23

No it's amazing. I desperately want to use it for DC2, if it's a boy! But DH is having none of it. I'm so jealous if you're able to use it. The Judy Blume reference is lost on me.....

ManifestingMingeHooHoosAgain · 17/10/2012 13:59

I am going to guess OP hasn't read much Judy Blume. There's a penis called Ralph in 'Forever' I can't get past it myself.

JennaLemon · 17/10/2012 13:55

I like Rafe. If you just use Rafe, spell it Rafe, say it Rafe then saul goodman.

in fact, just use Raphael with Rafe for short.

lottiegarbanzo · 17/10/2012 13:54

No, I think it's rather dashing. He's probably friends with Guy, Miles, Adam, Xander and yes, Charlie.

Rafe is the upper class pronunciation, I don't think it's ever spelt that way (is it?).

Raphael is low-level popular, very lovely and gives Rapha rather than Ralphie as nn, otherwise similar. I think Ralph is like the more sensible older brother of Raphael (in terms of my associations, not origins of course).

xmasevebundle · 17/10/2012 13:53

No, he would be a Ralph charlie, he takes my middle nameGrin

I thought everyone hated it, glad i posted as some like it.

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