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Baby names

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Original poster

Bad reaction to Raphael

71 replies

Name15 · 09/05/2017 12:50

I chose Raphael, told my family and their reaction was NO

  1. My cousin has teenage sons with the nicknames Rad and Ral. I don't see this as an issue because they're teens and their full names are nothing like Raphael, but my wider family think I'll be stepping on cousin's toes
  1. It's one of the ninja turtles. This didn't factor into my decision at all, but even so would a child even mind sharing a name with a crime fighting turtle?

What do you think of these issues? Actual issues or should I just ignore them?

OP posts:
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MarilynWhirlwindRocks · 09/05/2017 21:55

OP,

Leave all those opinionated family members to mull over the significance of your Xmas card choice this year: "The Annunciation" by Raphael...

[Raphael's a really gorgeous name: trust your own judgement] Smile

Bad reaction to Raphael
MarcelineQueen · 09/05/2017 19:07

Fabulous name! adds it to own hypothetical boys name list

OvO · 09/05/2017 17:09

LOVE Raphael.

Go for it. I have to insist you use it as I'm not having anymore DC so will never get the chance to. Grin

AceRag · 09/05/2017 17:03

I chose Raphael, told my family and their reaction was NO

I would tell them that I did not ask them a question.

smoothieooo · 09/05/2017 16:52

I love it. DS2 was soooo close to being a Raphael (as it's one of the archangels and DS1 has the most famous archangel name). Eventually we made it his middle name.

Reow · 09/05/2017 16:50

It's on my list. Great name.

TNMT makes it even better.

Tell your family to do one.

user1471547428 · 09/05/2017 16:50

Oh and my Raphael is half Irish too! You could always have a Raphael Patrick or a Raphael Ronan.

user1471547428 · 09/05/2017 16:48

My son is Raphael, never had a negative reaction (to my face anyway). He is rarely known as Raphael but is usually Raffy, Raf or Rafe.

WildCherryBlossom · 09/05/2017 13:53

Duh. with....out everyone else sticking their oar in.

WildCherryBlossom · 09/05/2017 13:52

Great name! Was on my list (baby was a girl tho)

Are ninja turtles even a thing these days? And if Rad & Ral are happy to have nicknames one consonant apart will it really bother them to have a cousin with a vaguely similar name.

Absolutely agree that names should never, ever be discussed. It's hard enough deciding between parents with

Mrsknackered · 09/05/2017 13:50

I think Raphael the angel too. It's been on the list for both DS's and maybe if I have a 3rd I will finally get my Raphael!
Family's always have something to say, none of them liked DS2's name but they soon came around.

AceRag · 09/05/2017 13:45

I would just go with what you like and don't give a flying eff what your family thinks tbh.

Teen cousins with mildly similar shortened names = irrelevant.
Raphael being the name of a ninja turtle = irrelevant.

KoalaDownUnder · 09/05/2017 13:44

This is probably my top boys' name. I adore Raphael/Rafael.

Ignore them!

AllMumsyWereTheBorrowedClothes · 09/05/2017 13:37

I had to come back to add that my friend, and her husband, with the son called Raphael are Irish. It's not like you're planning to call him Oliver Cromwell...

Sophronia · 09/05/2017 13:35

It's a great name!

clumsyduck · 09/05/2017 13:32

I really like it Smile

NavyandWhite · 09/05/2017 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cakescakescakes · 09/05/2017 13:28

I know a little boy called Raphael and he is nicknamed Raffy which I think is cute.

plutohasfeelingstoo · 09/05/2017 13:27

Fab name and how awesome would it be to be named after a turtle when you're 6.... not that you're actually naming him after a turtle Grin screw them, go with it . It's a great name

silkpyjamasallday · 09/05/2017 13:26

I LOVE the name Raphael, and I know one who goes by Raffi as a nickname. Beautiful name, tell your family to sod off. Dd was named after DPs late grandmother and it isn't a common name nowadays (I've never met anyone with the same name elderly or otherwise) and my family weren't keen initially although didn't say anything at the time but now admit dd suits it perfectly and she couldn't be called anything else. It doesn't matter what family think go with the name you love.

MilesHuntsWig · 09/05/2017 13:25

Ignore them it's lovely.

Original poster
Name15 · 09/05/2017 13:23

CricketRuntAndRashers I think their distaste for Michaelangelo comes from the fact that we're Irish

I imagine, on some level, they're hoping for a traditional Irish name like everyone else has chosen

OP posts:
Original poster
Name15 · 09/05/2017 13:19

LockedOutOfMN I quite like the nn Rafa but that might just my burning desire for Rafa Nadal talking

AnotherAnnoyingMother, Rockaby consider my lesson learnt on this one, I'm zipped from now on

OP posts:
HVB79 · 09/05/2017 13:19

Great name !

User24689 · 09/05/2017 13:18

I love the name Raphael! I'm not quite brave enough to use it as we have an unusual surname so it would be a bit of a mouthful.

Once he is here, he will become his name and they will love him so much they will accept it as part of him. Choose the name you and your partner love the best OP.