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

If I like Raphael, what else might I like?

30 replies

Toastypie · 07/09/2021 21:11

Raphael (Rafe) is now the only name I think I like for little boy due next year. I'm slightly worried it's a bit OTT with our surname - one syllable very British surname.

But I love its angelic, European and arty connotations, and I love the nickname options - Rafe, Raffy etc.

Are there any other boy names that spring to mind? I find boy names impossible!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
lottiegarbanzo · 08/09/2021 00:00

Gabriel
Jude
Florian

purplecarrot23 · 07/09/2021 23:59

Rafferty? NN Raf, Raffie etc.

Zarene · 07/09/2021 23:34

I adore Raphael, go with that.

I think Rafael Jones (Smith, whatever) sounds extremely cool.

SirVixofVixHall · 07/09/2021 23:31

I used to know brothers called Raphael and Gabriel. They were as beautiful as their names !

Katrinawaves · 07/09/2021 23:29

I’ve always liked Gideon which has a similar feel maybe but my OH wasn’t keen

Original poster
Toastypie · 07/09/2021 23:15

Thanks so much everyone. Especially for the encouragement to go with the name I love. It’s funny seeing so many of the names I’ve liked mentioned here as well. There must definitely be a vibe to them! Thanks again, really appreciate the input Smile

OP posts:
DDSMUM2 · 07/09/2021 23:15

We had Rafael on our list and went with Leandro. We also really liked Mateo, Luca and Gabriel.

IamEarthymama · 07/09/2021 22:38

I love Raphael and Rafe and I think you should follow your heart.

His name will be HIS name and it will suit him with his English surname!!

I did meet the most adorable Michelangelo once though.

(I also like Tristram, Tristan, Gabriel, Sebastian, Merlin, Felix, As a childminder I looked after boys with these names and really enjoyed them iyswim ☺️)

MirandaBlu · 07/09/2021 22:35

Love Raphael, but in my head it's spelled with an f (Rafael).

Alastair
Andreas
August
Casimir
Efraïm
Evander
Hugo
Kilian
Lionel
Matthias
Stefan
Stellan

IngridTails · 07/09/2021 22:04

Ralph pronounced Rafe is in safe.

MichelleScarn · 07/09/2021 22:01

@VodselForDinner

Michelangelo? Leonard? Donatello?
Grin Splinter Casey?
35andThriving · 07/09/2021 21:59

Micah
Daniel
Jeremy
Rowan

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/09/2021 21:55

Angelo
Tobias
Lucian
Finbarr
Gabriel
Marco
Maurice
Casper

RedRosie · 07/09/2021 21:52

Lots of great names here ... But Raphael is just lovely. I'd go with that @Toastypie You love it, it's lovely. Smile

Original poster
Toastypie · 07/09/2021 21:49

Thanks so much for these. So helpful. Cassius/ Cassian has also been on my list at times - I really like Cass for short.

I also quite like Jago but I guess that is wildly different from Raphael - I am Cornish so like the link.

Keep hoping I'll have a eureka moment, but maybe I need to be brave and go with Raphael, I can always introduce him as Rafe but with the longer version as his formal name.

If it was a girl I'd be struggling to narrow a list down, not create any kind of list at all!

OP posts:
Laloo4 · 07/09/2021 21:46

Raphael sounds perfect with your surname honestly!

Theodore
Gabriel
Benedict
Dominic
Vincent
Sebastian
Julian
Leander
Nathaniel
Zachary
Xavier

MorbidMuch · 07/09/2021 21:38

Michael
Nathaniel
Gabriel
Samuel
Elijah

annacondom · 07/09/2021 21:36

Raphael is gorgeous. So is Gabriel. I also like Daniel, although that's been a bit over-used in the past.

spaceghetto · 07/09/2021 21:35

Leviticus

ODFOx · 07/09/2021 21:32

Jude
Sebastian
Julian
Xavier
Gabriel
Dante

Wovenglitter · 07/09/2021 21:31

Cassius
Isaiah

SharpLily · 07/09/2021 21:30

Diego
Carlos

BreakfastClub80 · 07/09/2021 21:29

Zach
Reuben

MadameOvary81 · 07/09/2021 21:26

We had Raphael on our list and went with Gabriel in the end. We also had Caspian, Ellis, Kasper, Kajus, Elijah and Evan.

JBlow · 07/09/2021 21:24

Marius

Swipe left for the next trending thread