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Original poster

Ralph pronounce Rafe

113 replies

toastonbean · 08/02/2019 00:20

Is it just too 'think I'm upper class'??

I love it.

Everyone will call him Ralph (pronounces Ralf) though won't they?!

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Cbeebiesrehab · 10/02/2019 22:36

Aren’t you delightful frilly

I would personally take the lead from the parents but if I saw it written down I would think ‘Ralf’...but then I’m a pleb🙄

CocoLoco87 · 10/02/2019 21:32

This thread has BLOWN my mind! I know a 3 year old Ralph (ralf) and it would never occur to me to pronounce Ralph any other way Confused and as for Belvoir...?! I would assume if someone introduced themselves verbally as Rafe that it would be spelt Raef (there was one on the apprentice a few years ago with this spelling) or Rafe.

Artus · 10/02/2019 21:25

Sad to realise that my gorgeous, clever, funny 2 year old relative has been named by plebs without a shred of education. Ouch.

SoupDragon · 10/02/2019 21:16

🙄

frillyfarmer · 10/02/2019 21:12

They will pronounce it Rafe if they've got a shred of education about them - I've never looked at Ralph and thought to pronounce it Ralph, we are not American.

Don't let the plebs on here shame you into thinking it's a shit name. X

TatianaLarina · 10/02/2019 20:59

I think it entirely depends whether you can afford private school.

emilybrontescorsett · 10/02/2019 20:45

I thought Ralph was pronounced Rafe too op.
I think once people got used to it they would pronounce it correctly.
I really like it.

SemperIdem · 10/02/2019 00:22

I love Ralph prn Rafe but outside of posh circles, it would be Ralf.

It’s one of my favourite names for a future son, Rafe is itself an established variant spelling and that is the one I would use.

sometimessometimes · 09/02/2019 22:00

When I see Ralph written down I always say Rafe in my head. But we're posh 😬 I know two Ralphs who go by Rafe.

Ipanema01 · 09/02/2019 21:54

I have a Rafe, slightly irritating that some think it’s a yooonique spelling, it’s an old spellling and definitely not made up. #beeinbonnet Grin
Had always loved the name since hearing Ralph Fiennes, I don’t know many people personally who would know how it is correctly pronounced if spelt that way though and didn’t want to have to constantly correct people!

Disfordarkchocolate · 08/02/2019 17:39

Only ever know one, OAP working class and Northern and he was Ralph. Never hears anything else until I was in my 30's.

Piggywaspushed · 08/02/2019 17:34

I was at school with an Irenee...

And also and Irene. Pronounced Irayna.

Piggywaspushed · 08/02/2019 17:32

Surprised no one has mentioned Rafe Spall yet. You might not want to tell the highly accomplished RSC actor that he's common.

I too associate Ralph with Judy Blume...

Myyearmytime · 08/02/2019 17:22

The only rafe I know is Raphael really . I still wanted to call Ralph and did for few years .

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 08/02/2019 17:16

I would have like to have used Ralph pronounced Rafe because that was my grandfather's name. I was considering spelling it Rafe though because even in my grandfather's time people would pronounce it wrongly.

Dieu · 08/02/2019 17:11

What about Raphael, shortened to Raphe. Much nicer.

Fifthtimelucky · 08/02/2019 16:11

@AnotherRubberDuck Version 1 = Eye Reeny version 2 = Eye Reen.

I was at primary school with an Eye Reeny in the 1960s and never heard the Eye Reen version until well into my 20s.

UrsulaPandress · 08/02/2019 14:13

Ranulph anyone?

diddl · 08/02/2019 14:07

"Ralph is pronounced ralf (Ralph Lauren) "

Maybe in America?

I thought that Ralph was Rafe & Ralf was Ralf?

AnotherRubberDuck · 08/02/2019 13:54

@Fifthtimelucky
Two versions of Irene? Eh? Educate me!

twattymctwatterson · 08/02/2019 13:44

To the people saying that Ralph is Ralf and Rafe is a different name. Do you know that Ralph Fiennes is pronounced as Rafe?

evilharpy · 08/02/2019 13:39

I would pronounce Ralph as Rafe unless told otherwise. I think it’s a lovely name. However now I realise that not everyone agrees on pronunciation I’d hesitate to use it for fear of my son having to spend his whole life correcting people and hating his name.

daisypond · 08/02/2019 13:38

Ralph pronounced as Rafe is my first thought - it's the classic pronunciation, as pp have said. Ralph pronounced as Ralph is fine, too. Rafe is just wrong in so many ways... But we're heading into Louis/Louie/Lewis territory here!

KindnessCrusader · 08/02/2019 13:38

No, I KNOW, I just think it's silly 🤷‍♀️

IHeartKingThistle · 08/02/2019 13:34

It's such a gorgeous name. I did know about Ralph pronounced Rafe but I probably wouldn't use it because not everybody does know. I know a Rafe and a Raif and I also like the suggestion of Raphael nn Rafe.

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