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

Rafael, Rafa, Raff….thoughts!

30 replies

Bethwoodbank · 10/08/2022 08:35

Hi oh wise mums! I want some honest feedback on names. My second baby, a boy is due in a couple of months. I already have a daughter called Emilia, who we almost exclusively call Emmie and I want to make sure the two names fit together. Me and my husband rarely agree on any names but we are both pretty happy with Rafael, to be known as Raff or Rafa (similar to how we use Emmie). So Emilia and Rafael; Emmie and Raff…So my questions…we are completely white British, no Mediterranean influence (although Hebrew heritage on one side and strong non family links to Portugal where we visit twice a year)- is Rafael appropriate? This is my main worry-I really like the name and LOVE the nn (Rafferty is an absolute non starter for hubby btw) but wonder if it conjures up Spanish/Portuguese vibes. Also, what would I use for eg. his stocking, personalised rucksack, nursery register etc…Raff or Rafa or other? We use Emmie for those sorts of things…the longer name is really just so they have options in later life (and for when they’re naughty 😂😂) thoughts welcome please 😀 🙏

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 11/08/2022 11:05

That should say "most younger and civilian people".

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 11/08/2022 11:04

I am from a military family so to me Raf means the Royal Air Force and Rafa means the Royal Air Force Association. Probably not an issue to most younger people though (and both acronyms are only more widely used amongst 70 year olds and above).

Rafael is nice though and much better than Rafferty. It is biblical, but as usable as Gabriel.

dmask · 11/08/2022 10:58

Rafferty? I don’t like Raffa, reminds me of the cycling brand. Raffi is great, makes me think of the singer!

KneeQuestion · 11/08/2022 10:52

I know two men called Rafa. Both polish.

I like it. Rafe is awful. Sounds pretentious.

boredasusual · 11/08/2022 10:47

There are lots of Rafaels about, none of the three in my DDs year at school have Spanish/med origins. I wouldn't worry about that if you like the name.

PilatesPeach · 11/08/2022 10:36

Rafael is my dog's name nn is Raff or Rafa - I love it - I have no Latin heritage I just think it is a fine name and works as well for humans. My dog is beautiful, intelligent and loving.

pinklavenders · 11/08/2022 10:27

*Raffa Smith etc doesn’t quite sound right.

Rafe instead?*

I agree. Rafe or Ralph is much nicer than Raff or Raffa.

cunningplan101 · 10/08/2022 22:18

Funny, there was another thread about Raphael just yesterday. The responses seemed more positive:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/baby_names/4607195-raphael

KirstenBlest · 10/08/2022 19:53

It's definitely a biblical name @AliBaliBears , and like most biblical names it has many different forms, pronunciations and spellings. I think it compares to spelling Mark as Marc or Elizabeth as Elisabeth.

AliBaliBears · 10/08/2022 18:50

I think it's a biblical/Hebrew name, and is used in many countries.

I prefer the Rafael spelling. I think the diminutive will naturally arise over time (or not - I thought I'd call my son a shortening of his name but I actually use his full name almost always).

SemperIdem · 10/08/2022 18:37

I’ve come across a couple of British Raffa’s - I don’t like it. Raffa Smith etc doesn’t quite sound right.

Rafe instead?

AmandaMirandaPanda · 10/08/2022 12:58

I think Raphael is fine for an English-speaking person. I prefer the Rafael spelling as it's more direct, same idea as Louisa/Luisa, but be prepared for people to assume the trad English spelling (Raphael) if you are in the UK, so may require more frequent correction. Rafa makes more sense to me from Rafael, but Raf/Raph or Rafi/Raphie could be from either.

How did you decide to put Emmie on the stocking instead of Emilia? Use the same logic for your son's stocking, whatever you call him every day whether it's his "real" name or not.

Billylilly · 10/08/2022 12:49

I tend to usually agree that I don’t like names from other heritages but I think you can get away with Rafael. I love the name Raf. I know one, he’s a Brazilian Rafael, and everyone loves him. I also love the name Emmie. You’ve got good taste in names 😊

DuchessOfSausage · 10/08/2022 12:40

@Natsku, that's because it is Rafael in Finnish.

Natsku · 10/08/2022 12:18

Doesn't necessarily conjure up Spanish/Portuguese vibes to me, its a name used in many countries, even Finland which is about far away as possible from Spanish/Portuguese vibe!

I love the name, almost named my son it, would probably have used Raf as a nickname

mogwa · 10/08/2022 12:09

I would spell it Raphael because that's the traditional English spelling. Rafael seems very Spanish/Portuguese to me. It's a bit like Giulia Vs Julia.

NellietheNumpty · 10/08/2022 12:03

I like Raef.

wildthingsinthenight · 10/08/2022 12:01

Raffy is better than Raff I think. I've known one.
Love both your DC's names

FlamingoDust · 10/08/2022 12:00

I love it!

DotDotDotDotDot · 10/08/2022 11:58

I really like Rafael and all its nicknames. I don’t think it matters about your background personally. You could always spell it Raphael though and still get the shortenings Raph/Rapha/Raphy.

pinklavenders · 10/08/2022 09:52

Raff is awful.

Sounds like Riff Raff.

Emmie is sweet but I really don't like Raff!

liveforsummer · 10/08/2022 09:16

There is an Emmie and Raff sibling pair at DD's school. Raff is much better than Raffa imo. Im not sure what theirs is short if indebted are short for anything for as I don't know the family apart from to say a passing hi it's just that mum is the loud eccentric type so hear their names a lot! 😆. They are perfectly fine names though

sweetnoodle · 10/08/2022 09:13

I really don't like the name either

clickychicky · 10/08/2022 09:10

I hate raffy

elp30 · 10/08/2022 09:10

I'm a Mexican-American person and a few of my relatives are called, Rafael.

I would think you have Hispanic/Latin/Mediterranean heritage with the name.

Since I live in the US, my relatives are nicknamed, "Rafa" by my Spanish-speaking relatives but are called, "Ralph" or "Ralphie" by the English-speaking ones.

Personally, I'd stick to just calling him, Rafael with no diminutive. It's a lovely name on its own.