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Baby names

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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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thatsmyspace · 08/02/2019 13:30

@toastonbean well I suppose it depends where you live. Where I'm from Ralph is pronounced ralf. I couldn't be doing with corrected people all the time 🤦🏻‍♀️

KindnessCrusader · 08/02/2019 13:29

It's really silly.

Sunshine1235 · 08/02/2019 13:27

The Rafe spelling became popular in the 17th century according to behindthename.com. There is a character in Wolf Hall called Rafe and that’s set in the 16th century and there is also a dog in Enid Blythons books Shadow the Sheepdog (written in the 40s) called Rafe so definitely not a new younique spelling.

In case you can’t tell we have a Rafe. We went back and forward between the spellings for ages but ultimately were happy that it was a legitimate spelling of an old name and sadly the Ralph version has been so commonly Americanised now (I blame the simpsons) that I think he would have a lifetime of saying ‘it’s pronounced rafe’ as shown in this thread. Occasionally people say his name wrong but it doesn’t happen that often and overwhelming the response has been positive from friends and family. I still love it and even though I have other children now too it’s my favourite out of all their names. I loved Raphael too but sadly that didn’t go with our surname so you could consider that with a shortening to a Rafe?

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 13:21

Ralph is pronounced ralf (Ralph Lauren)
*
Rafe is a totally different name.*

I think this thread has proved otherwise Smile

OP posts:
thatsmyspace · 08/02/2019 13:18

Ralph is pronounced ralf (Ralph Lauren)

Rafe is a totally different name.
I prefer rafe and if you want people to pronounce it rafe then that's how I'd spell it. All the Ralph's I know are pronounced ralf

Fortheloveofscience · 08/02/2019 13:17

I know a Raife pronounced ‘Rafe’.

OlennasWimple · 08/02/2019 13:16

Ralph is "rafe" for me too (and I'm really not posh)

Eye - you might enjoy on Americans pronouncing English place names Smile

ChoccyBiccyTastic · 08/02/2019 13:15

Yes, 'Rafe' is a perfectly legitimate pronunciation of Ralph, and my preferred pronunciation by a country mile.

mogtheexcellent · 08/02/2019 13:14

Are you going to triple barrel it or use as muddle names?

So Ralph-pronouced-Rafe Toast or Ralph Pronouced Rafe Toast?

Would solve the pronounciation problem

Fifthtimelucky · 08/02/2019 13:09

@GahWhatever: yes, I think of G&S too, plus RVW and Fiennes.

I was at school with a Ralph pronounced Ralf in the 1970s so I consider both pronunciations equally valid. A bit like the two versions of Irene.

I dislike both Rafe and Ralf spellings.

SoupDragon · 08/02/2019 12:58

No! His siblings all have the same surname :)

AnotherRubberDuck · 08/02/2019 12:55

So I clicked on here to say "if you want it pronounced Rafe name him Rafe Hmm Ralph is its own name pronounced ralf"

Seems like I'm wrong! Blush Blush I'm glad I learned this now and not when it could've shown me up!! You learn something new every day!

halfwitpicker · 08/02/2019 12:52

Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes^

You made that up, didn't you, soup dragon?

GahWhatever · 08/02/2019 12:48

I'm with Gilbert and Sullivan on this one (and the Fiennes)
Ralph! That name! Remorse, remorse!
Grin

Narya · 08/02/2019 12:43

I'd spell it Ralph and put up with correcting people. Agree with pp that Rafe looks made up. But tbh I'd also only use that name if I could afford private schooling for little Ralph.

SumAndSubstance · 08/02/2019 12:38

I'm also surprised that so many people who frequent the Mumsnet baby names board don't know about the Ralph-pronounced-Rafe thing. The Rafe spelling makes you look uncultured (!)

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 11:50

Reminds me of the old advert with the lady (from New Orleans?) cooking a jambalaya (or something) and she says

"Add some WOO-CHESTER-SHIIIIRE SAUCE!"

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EyeOfTheTigger · 08/02/2019 11:35

On the subject of place names, I once worked for an American who was in the UK on work assignment. He told me he had a client meeting in Worcestershire, but instead of pronouncing it Woostersheer, he said Were-sess-ter-shyre. Couldn't help smiling at that one.

FlagFish · 08/02/2019 11:26

Sorry missed Rafe from my message above. The English man is spelt Ralph and pronounced Rafe.

FlagFish · 08/02/2019 11:25

I know two men with this name. One is English and it’s spelt Ralph and pronounced, the other is German and it’s spelt Ralf and propounded Ralf.

So I think you’re right OP!

Sophronia · 08/02/2019 11:19

I know a 2 year old Ralphie (pronounced ral-fee).

diddl · 08/02/2019 11:19

""Just play it safe, pronounce it Ralph!""

Brilliant!

palomapear · 08/02/2019 11:03

I know a Ralph, pronounced Ralf and he's so pompous! I know a German Ralf and he's great.

How do you feel about Rufus?

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 08/02/2019 10:57

Always Ralph (pronounced Rafe) as far as i know. Rafe makes it look like you can’t spell. Raife would make me assume it was a foreign homonym.

Pronouncing the L would make me assume American origins (but mostly, now i think about it, because of the Simpsons Blush ).

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 10:49

@OhTheRoses

Ha and thank you for the Beauchamp Place confirmation- I used to have my hair done on that street years ago and would always shy away from pronouncing it correctly to the cabbies as I just wasn't sure I was right or notBlush

"Beachum/bowschump place pls sir!"

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