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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ralph?

69 replies

Hoptastic53 · 17/03/2017 23:35

I have never met a Ralph and I can't work out if there's something terrible about the name that I'm missing. I think Ralphie is cute for the baby years and Ralph is good for an older child and adult. What do you think?

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Xmasbaby11 · 18/03/2017 23:16

Haven't you read Judy Blume? For most women my age - 40 - it's a pet name of a Penistone.

TheHiphopopotamus · 18/03/2017 23:14

I like Rafe if you spell it and pronounce it like that.

Otherwise Ralph is also too penis-y for me.

ImpetuousBride · 18/03/2017 23:10

*arggh , meant RaFe, keep posting before correcting

hotwater · 18/03/2017 23:09

Rory is overdone. Love Ralph. I'd forgotten the Forever reference. Makes me think of Lord of the Flies.

ImpetuousBride · 18/03/2017 23:09

*Rage not Race

ImpetuousBride · 18/03/2017 23:08

My association is Ralph De Bricassart from "Thorn Birds", a great classic, so positive. I also thought it should be pronounced RaLF but I know Ralph Finess is a "Race", so confusing!

I would say Casper and Rory are the type of names I'd never choose...to me they sound silly and cartoon-like.

crapfatbanana · 18/03/2017 22:57

I think Ralph (not Rafe, which always sounds a bit pretentious to me) is a great name.

reuset · 18/03/2017 22:55

It is traditionally pronounced Rafe, but I wonder how many do now? US and Scots pronunciation (correct me if I'm wrong) is Ralph, not rafe.

reuset · 18/03/2017 22:52

"Meet Ralph" is the only quote I can remember from Judy Blume, unless I've made that up Grin

Kazzawazza69 · 18/03/2017 22:48

Forgot to say I really like Rory!

Kazzawazza69 · 18/03/2017 22:48

I know a very cute year old Ralph (pronounced Ralf - didn't know it could be pronounced Rafe?!). I must admit I thought it was odd when I first heard it but it has grown on me! Never heard of the penis/vomit associations!

ScarletSienna · 18/03/2017 16:46

Jooni, the Ralph in Forever was strong too. Strong and...pulsating Grin

greeeen · 18/03/2017 14:39

I quite like Ralph, Rafe is better.IMO

Pencilvester · 18/03/2017 11:22

Sorry, but Ralph will always be the penis from Forever for me.

Rory is a lovely name!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 18/03/2017 11:13

❤️ Rory.

Imaginingdragonsagain · 18/03/2017 10:51

Judy Blume has ruined the name (which wasn't that great to begin with!!) Rory is cute.

emilybrontescorset · 18/03/2017 10:50

It is traditionally pronounced Rafe.

BadToTheBone · 18/03/2017 10:18

I love it and ds had a friend in nursery called it ( this was about 15 years ago). BUT I wouldn't use it because of the connotations, it is another name for vomit in a huge part of the world, so although it isn't where you live unless he's never going to travel I wouldn't use it.

goodelfallover · 18/03/2017 08:56

Wiggum here.

dylsmimi · 18/03/2017 08:56

I know both a Rafe and a Ralph (not pronounced Rafe) and both are lovely
I wasn't keen on the name Ralph before and always thought judy Blume but actually now I know what a lovely little boy Ralph is that's who I think of when I hear it
If you like it op go for it and people will link it with your ds

Bloosh · 18/03/2017 08:53

I like it! Suddenly strikes me as a really good cool name.

I haven't read Judy Blume though

SchnitzelVonCrumb · 18/03/2017 08:50

I'm not in the UK

Do most people read Ralph and pronounce it Rafe?

I'm confused

geordiedench · 18/03/2017 08:44

Weird. Why do so many people dislike the name Ralph? It's fine. Rafe is nice, Ralfie is very cute. And it's a normal name without being very popular, which is hard to find.
I love Rory too, though prefer the Scottish spelling.
How about Rafael? Raffie is cute too.

rollonthesummer · 18/03/2017 08:40

It isn't particularly slang for a penis, but the name of a chap's penis in a Pan Horizon book many of us read in our formative years!

emilybrontescorset · 18/03/2017 07:00

Ralph ( pronounced Rafe) Is gorgeous.

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