Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

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?!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
gemmaxyz · 08/02/2019 02:08

The only one I've met went to public school. I'd guess that if that isn't where he'll be going, it'll be pronounced with the L.

everydaymum · 08/02/2019 02:08

You could try Raife?

Lovingbenidorm · 08/02/2019 02:08

God you lot are sooooo common!

EdtheBear · 08/02/2019 02:06

I can't even work out how you say Rafe, is it the same a safe, but with a R?

If you are trying to get that out of Ralph people will give you some odd looks. Confused

If you don't like the spelling Rafe, how about Raith?

Ralph has an a sound like Apple
R/Safe has an an A sound like Aeroplane

HeronLanyon · 08/02/2019 01:51

I do pronounce Ralph ‘rafe’ But only because I knew one and Vaughan-Williams. Everyone (I suspect) will sound the ‘l’. I’ve never seen ‘rafe’ spelling and I would assume the namer didn’t know how to spell it or was trying to be youooooneek.
I agree it’s a great name when pronounced without the l.

halfwitpicker · 08/02/2019 01:44

Like the Seinfeld episode?

DramaAlpaca · 08/02/2019 01:35

Ralph is such an ugly looking name however you pronounce it.

Rafe is marginally better.

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 00:29

I just watched an episode of Eggheads with a Ralph pronounced Rafe on there and it got me thinking again Grin

He did seem rather posh well educated.

OP posts:
Casmama · 08/02/2019 00:28

They will pronounce it Ralph and think you/ he are a dick if you try to correct them. I suspect you know this

Original poster
toastonbean · 08/02/2019 00:28

Ah I always assumed Ralph Fiennes was spelling and pronouncing his the Olde English "proper" way and Ralph pronounce Ralf was more of an Americanism. Bah.

Okay, so maybe Rafe is the better option?

OP posts:
ICJump · 08/02/2019 00:24

They are different names. Call him the name you want him to be called.

Aeonium · 08/02/2019 00:22

Yes everyone will call him Ralph and laugh at him like they laughed at Hyacinth Bucket. If you want to call him Rafe then spell it Rafe.

BarryBasket · 08/02/2019 00:21

I'm going to call my child Bob (pronounced Charlie)

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread