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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rafe/Raphael/Rafferty

35 replies

nasara · 07/06/2014 08:10

Still on a quest for our perfect boys' name!

I do like all three but have a slight reservation on each:

Rafe - I like it because it's short and snappy, but think I prefer the long a sound of the other two.

Raphael - I love the nn potentials, but not sure it goes with my last name (Mi tchell)

Rafferty - again, I love the nn potentials, but perhaps this one is a bit surnamey and a bit of a celeb copy cat

What do you think?

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Alisvolatpropiis · 10/06/2014 21:18

Oh don't get me wrong it makes me Hmm that Ralph is somehow also Rafe, apparently. Makes no sense!

DiamondsAndRust · 10/06/2014 21:07

Raphael with NN Rafe. So much nicer than Rafferty, which is celeb-trendy and faddy IMO. Raphael is lovely, and goes well with Mitchell.

Onesleeptillwembley · 10/06/2014 20:55

It's Ralph up here, Alis. Maybe a regional thing.

Alisvolatpropiis · 10/06/2014 20:41

Rafe is generally how Ralph is pronounced in the UK. Ralph Fiennes didn't make it up at random.

maggiethemagpie · 10/06/2014 20:37

Rafe sounds like someone who can't say Ralph properly. Raphael I'm not too sure about it. I quite like Rafferty, an obvious nn would be Raff though.

Hulafox · 08/06/2014 23:46

All lovely! Rafa and Rafi lovely nicknames. Hard to choose between Rafe and Raphael but I guess the latter gives him moe options in the future.

Randomeclectic · 08/06/2014 23:14

Raphael with the nickname rafe

Original poster
nasara · 08/06/2014 22:59

I think we've done our thinking and Raphael/Rafe have gone to the reject end of the list - this is so hard!

Thanks, ThingsThatShine, I do like both those names but they both end in the same sound as my last name, so would be a bit rhymey.

OP posts:
smokeandglitter · 08/06/2014 21:15

I love Raphael, don't think you need a link to anything except liking it, it isn't hard to pronounce or spell and doesn't sound like anything funny/rude here. Lots of names come from different backgrounds, I know lots of Cassandra's that aren't Greek!

ThingsThatShine · 08/06/2014 21:09

I love Rafe

On a similar note what about Gabe (Gabriel) or Nate (Nathaniel)

Marnierose · 08/06/2014 17:46

Google 'raphe' ( pronounced the same as Rafe)

badtime · 08/06/2014 11:51

I prefer the 'Rafael' spelling, but I think 'Raphael' is the best of your choices.

Rhubarbgarden · 08/06/2014 10:37

I agree with other posters that you need some kind of Mediterranean link to use Raphael, although it is a beautiful name.

Rafe sounds affected.

Rafferty is ridiculous.

Viatrix · 07/06/2014 20:34

I also agree with what squoosh said, I think Raphael M itch ell sounds fine.

HobinRood · 07/06/2014 20:14

I love the name Rafe.

Although I instantly think of Ben Affleck's character in Pearl Harbour.

DramaAlpaca · 07/06/2014 16:57

I was just going to post exactly what squoosh just said, but got distracted on another thread. Completely agree.

squoosh · 07/06/2014 16:55

I think Raphael M* sounds great. The first name and surname end with different sounds, In Raphael it's an elongated 'ell' sound and with the surname it's quite a short 'ull' sound'.

Onesleeptillwembley · 07/06/2014 16:45

Think both names together don't flow, sadly.

Original poster
nasara · 07/06/2014 16:43

Thanks for the input so far - it really does help.

I think Rafferty has moved way down the list, but do you think Raphael goes with my last name (M itch ell)?

I had discounted all other names ending in -el/ell as sounding quite rhymey e.g. Nathaniel.

OP posts:
IWillYeah · 07/06/2014 15:03

Raphael (or Rafael, which is Spanish I think) - beautiful.

Rafe - meh.

Rafferty is awful.

Navybluetutu · 07/06/2014 15:02

Oh I like all 3, think I would go for Rafferty if I had to choose.

TurquoiseDress · 07/06/2014 15:00

I love Raphael!

You could shorten it to Raph or Rafa like the tennis player!

squoosh · 07/06/2014 13:52

I love Raphael and you can use Rafe/Raffy/Rafa as a nickname for this so best of both worlds.

Rafferty is a surname or a celeb baby name.

AWombWithoutARoof · 07/06/2014 13:25

I'd say for Raphael you need some mediterranean heritage, but I love the sound of the word, it's really beautiful.

Rafe makes me think of the rather pretentious (IMO) pronunciation of Ralph, and also the fabulous Rafe Spall.

I like Rafferty, but it is a bit slebby.

Onesleeptillwembley · 07/06/2014 13:21

Rafferty is a bit common. Raphael? Gaining in popularity but is ok. I've never come across a Rafe but wasn't it an alternative pronunciation to Ralph at one time? It sounds nice, Ralph doesn't.

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