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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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donkey86 · 08/02/2019 10:49

my main association is with Judy Blume's Forever

@CaitlinsYellowSocks Same here! If the name Ralph has declined in popularity in the last three or so decades that has to be partly the reason why...

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 10:46

I really do love the name.

Perhaps we could start an awareness campaign??

With a catchy slogan

^"Just play it safe, pronounce it Ralph!"
^
(That rhymes btw)

OP posts:
TinklyLittleLaugh · 08/02/2019 10:44

Ralph is pronounced Rafe. Pronounce it Ralf and you look a bit uneducated.

Raspberry88 · 08/02/2019 10:43

Rafe is just wrong. It's Ralph, pronounced Rafe.

Yep!

Boredboredboredboredbored · 08/02/2019 10:35

My Dads named Ralph. He's never forgiven his mother for it.

banivani · 08/02/2019 10:34

I am very common and not English (but have Irish roots) and I know that there's an English name that looks like Ralph but is pronounced Rafe. When I first heard it (must've been in my early teens? I'm in my 40s now) I thought it was bizarre as hell obviously but sure the Irish have their own oddnesses with names Wink and the English are quite mad with oddnesses in names and spellings so let live I suppose. There's another English name that messes with your mind, but I can't think of it now ... It'll come to me.

That said, if the Ralph-but-Rafe spelling and pronunciation isn't common in your family or in your circles it'll seem a little pretentious I think but am no expert on the English class system.

SoupDragon · 08/02/2019 10:33

I do know Ralph can be pronounced Rafe but it wouldn't be my first attempt at pronouncing it.

I've just discovered that Ralph Feinnes is actually Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes.Now that screams Posh!

Bumblebeesmum · 08/02/2019 10:24

Am surprised a bunch of mumsnetters aren’t familiar with the Ralph / Rafe thing
I think it’s a nice name but it depends how you feel about constantly explaining / correcting - if it doesn’t bother you then go for it.

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 10:22

Yes Edthebear Smile

OP posts:
EdtheBear · 08/02/2019 09:47

Does Rafe sound like Safe?

CaitlinsYellowSocks · 08/02/2019 09:15

I think Rafe is the traditional English pronunciation of Ralph, so classic rather than pretentious, and I really like the way it sounds.

I think Fiennes and Vaughan Williams when it's pronounced 'Rafe' (pronounced the 'American' way, my main association is with Judy Blume's Forever - although that probably won't be familiar to younger generations).

However, you are going get lots of people either misspelling or mispronouncing it.

OnTheHop · 08/02/2019 08:15

St John pronounced Sinjun

I would do Raphael, Nn ‘Rafe’.

Rafe as a name looks like bargain basement phonetic spelling like some of the yooneek spellings, even if it is not.

I like Ralph pronounced Rafe, like Fiennes.

ILoveMarmiteToo · 08/02/2019 07:56

Belvoir is pronounced Beaver!

PlatypusPie · 08/02/2019 07:51

It’s not at all all an unusual pronunciation of it - I’ve heard both, though I don’t think it is a very popular baby name atm.If I saw Rafe written, I would assume it was possibly from another culture and maybe pronouncec something more like Rafee .

My neighbour’s son (late twenties) is Ralph, pronounced Rafe - he was at the same primary school as my DD and people used to say it in both ways. His father was very musical and I would not be surprised if he named him in homage to Ralph Vaughn- Williams.

IggyAce · 08/02/2019 07:38

I know a Ralph I did however check if it was pronounced Rafe.

OhTheRoses · 08/02/2019 07:31

Ralph = rafe, end of
Beauchamp place, knightsbridge = Beecham
Featherstonehaugh = Fanshaw

Loads of other examples. Funny Englush ways.

Rafe is just wrong. It's Ralph, pronounced Rafe.

DecumusScotti · 08/02/2019 07:19

And the actor Rafe Spall.

I prefer the Rafe spelling.

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 07:11

So pleased to wake up to messages from people who have also heard the Ralph-pronounced-Rafe version and it wasn't me just mishearing/being completely crazy.

I do love the sound of it.

OP posts:
NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 08/02/2019 03:23

Your pronunciation wouldn't surprise me, because RVW etc, but if is a very posh name! Not impossible to carry off though and perhaps you'd be keeping that (definitely much nicer) pronunciation alive?!

My first assumption would be "Ralf" but when you corrected me I'd go "oh, like Vaughan Williams!" and not "Hmm different name" or "Hmm Hyacinth Bucket". Smile

HeronLanyon · 08/02/2019 03:20

budget interesting - middle name and used it - interesting man ! Just did great wiki dive there.

budgetneeded · 08/02/2019 02:58

Local fellow (now deceased) but well known in western Canada.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafe_Mair

HeronLanyon · 08/02/2019 02:52

budget thank you ! I don’t think I ever knew rafe could be spelled ‘rafe’ !

budgetneeded · 08/02/2019 02:45

if you want rafe call the child rafe, it's a proper name.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafe_(name)

trulybadlydeeply · 08/02/2019 02:20

What about Raphael, and have Rafe as a nn? I think Rafi would also be cute as a nn.

Tavannach · 08/02/2019 02:09

You'll sentence him to a lifetime of saying "Ralph pronounced Rafe".

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