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Baby names

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

Original poster

Asa or Raphael

32 replies

BabyInWaiting · 07/12/2017 22:38

Just curious which you prefer and why. For my son. Thank you.

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RavenLG · 08/12/2017 12:05

"Raphael is cool but crude" .. yup, my mind defo went TMNT first, but I'm clearly a philistine compared to Lady midsomer

MikeUniformMike · 08/12/2017 11:37

You could use Acer for a more nature-inspired name.

MikeUniformMike · 08/12/2017 11:36

Asa.
Raphael/Rafael is nice but Raf makes me think of armed forces or raffish. Rafa makes me think of a Spanish tennis player.

yasmin05 · 08/12/2017 11:27

Instead of Assa, why not Sashah.

midsomermurderess · 08/12/2017 11:15

I prefer Raphael, the look and sound of it, its cultural connections, and I'd like to say that it entirely transcends 'teenage mutant ninja turtle'.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/12/2017 11:10

Id probably shove the y into just to make sure especially through X number of years at school.

Actually ID just pick Raphael cos I love it and in a bit meh about Asa

HouseworkIsASin10 · 08/12/2017 11:06

It's obviously Ay-sa. Assa would be spelt Assa.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/12/2017 11:04

Because people can't work out if its
ass-a

Ay-sa

HouseworkIsASin10 · 08/12/2017 10:56

Asa. Lovely name.

DiegoMadonna · 08/12/2017 10:53

People are afraid of what's different.

Mrsknackered · 08/12/2017 10:44

I don't quite get why pronouncing Asa is hard. It's the same as Ada/Ava

rowtheboats · 08/12/2017 10:38

How on earth do you pronounce asa? It looks like an abbreviation to me. E.g Amateur Swimming Association

DiegoMadonna · 07/12/2017 23:35

Asa. Cos it's awesome!

SleepingStandingUp · 07/12/2017 23:29

Not an Asa fan. Too close to Ass sorry :(
Adore Raphael no Raffi nn Raf

Sophronia · 07/12/2017 23:21

Asa. Love it!

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 07/12/2017 23:17

Sorry neither - asa sounds made up and he’ll get ‘ass a’ or ‘asda’ all the time

Raphael is try hard posh and so so popular atm but nicer than Asa

Any other options?

timeisnotaline · 07/12/2017 23:13

ontopof so you don't like asa? Grin . I'd not heard of it, I can see some of the appeal but it doesn't quite get there for me.

Blankscreen · 07/12/2017 23:11

I know an Asa. Sorry but to think it's a post awful name. I always think of.a laptop and it looks like initials.

Raffi is.lovely.

Ontopofthesunset · 07/12/2017 23:07

I don't really like Asa much, partly because of the Advertising Standards Agency that someone's already mentioned, partly because it looks like an unfinished phrase ('as a woman', 'as a dog', 'as a bird'), partly because it's only one letter different from Asda, partly because it's only one letter different from ISA, partly because it's also very close to Asos, partly because it's only one letter different from ass and but a short hop to arsehole.

Raphael's a nice name.

MummaTwinkleToes · 07/12/2017 23:07

Absolutely love Raphael. Met a Raphael when pregnant with DS1 he was such a lovely young man. DH wouldn’t agree to it.

Original poster
BabyInWaiting · 07/12/2017 23:00

Asa pronounced Ay-sa. Guess similar a-sound to Ada?

Thank you for all the replies. Yes Raffi is cute nn!

OP posts:
Ragusa · 07/12/2017 22:59

Ah ok Google tells me it is like the tree, Acer. I like it. Raphael is also nice. Asa is a bit less commonplace so that may be good or bad depending on your perspective.

I originally thought of åsa pronounced the Swedish way (like Orsa) but I suspect that is just me...

MedicinalGin · 07/12/2017 22:54

This sounds awful and I’m so sorry but Asa reminds me of the abbreviation for the advertising standards authority. It’s a lovely name but I don’t think I’d be able to not think of that. Raphael is gorgeous and you could call them Raffi for short which is just ace too.Smile

Ragusa · 07/12/2017 22:54

Can I ask how you pronounce Asa??

bluesu · 07/12/2017 22:53

Please how do you pronounce Asa? Blush

Ass-ah
Ay-sah

??

I want to love it and I think I will once I know how to say it !

Raphael is also lovely, you have great taste in names OP. Did you have any others on your short list I can steal hear?