Hugo or Raphael?

Eloise34 · 2025-02-06T11:20:26+00:00

That really - which would you choose? How important is ‘matching’ their sibling's name to you?

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Original poster

Eloise34 · 13/02/2025 22:24

@DuckieDodgyHedgyPiggy sending you a PM!

OP posts:

DuckieDodgyHedgyPiggy · 13/02/2025 22:13

Raphael is gorgeous. Not keen on Hugo.

Original poster

Eloise34 · 13/02/2025 22:11

Hi @DreamJG , sending you a PM!

OP posts:

DreamJG · 13/02/2025 21:33

My son is called Raphael and always get lovely compliments on his name. I think it’s timeless.xxx

okydokethen · 07/02/2025 16:52

Hugo is much nicer

PenneyFouryourthoughts · 07/02/2025 15:50

Raphael.

SecondMrsTanqueray · 07/02/2025 15:48

Love them both (helpful).

Hugo is pretty popular though, so I’d go with Raphael. I know 2 20 something Raffertys, but no Raphaels.

Original poster

Eloise34 · 07/02/2025 15:45

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

@FluffMagnet - I’m guessing Raphael was vetoed ? (Seems to be a few vetoes in this thread!)

@theduchessofspork - I’m in Australia and it’s all about L names - Leo, Lucas, Liam, Leon, etc! Was this UK previously? Sometimes Aus lags behind UK trends… R names are not common at all, Rafferty and Raphael are unheard of here!

@HugoYorway - that’s my hesitation with Hugo, silent H in many Latin languages (we are mixed family) so it’s oo-goh…

@babyproblems - where you are do you feel like Raphael would not have been understood / would have stood out as foreign? We need a name that works across cultures so it’s something to consider

OP posts:

babyproblems · 07/02/2025 12:18

I have a Hugo. And we nearly called him Raphael 😂 we chose Hugo because we live abroad and it’s pretty universally understood!

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 12:15

Hugh and Huw are not the same name. They don't sound the same either.
They are variants of Hugo .

ShowAndGo · 07/02/2025 11:03

Hugo. All the Hugos I've ever met have been lovely. Hugh/Huw is also nice.

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 11:01

@TabloidFootprints , yes, I know, but unless you are choosing to use the Mar-eye-a pronunciation it's pretty much the same everywhere. Mia can be My-a. I think that there's more of a difference between the UK Hugo and the French/Spanish/Portuguese/... Hugos.

TabloidFootprints · 07/02/2025 10:38

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 10:36

Tom, Bob, Ann, Maria, Mia...

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Maria can be mar-eye-ah or mar-ee-ah

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 10:36

Leeloo1233 · 07/02/2025 09:47

Yes, but it's only cute we think. Not sure any name is pronounced exactly the same in all languages

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Tom, Bob, Ann, Maria, Mia...

Notgivenuphope · 07/02/2025 09:52

Love both these names!
not important at all. They may end up living in separate continents one day!

Leeloo1233 · 07/02/2025 09:47

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 08:51

But the pronunciation varies.

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Yes, but it's only cute we think. Not sure any name is pronounced exactly the same in all languages

HugoYorway · 07/02/2025 08:51

Leeloo1233 · 07/02/2025 08:18

We have a baby Hugo in our family of three nationalities and it has worked really well. Everyone across the globe has known how to pronounce it and spell it and we receive so many compliments. It is quite popular in Scandinavia and France as well. We call him Hugie at home and his brother calls him Hoogie Boogie 😄😍

But the pronunciation varies.

Radiatorvalves · 07/02/2025 08:21

I like both. I do know a lot of Hugo’s though.

Leeloo1233 · 07/02/2025 08:18

We have a baby Hugo in our family of three nationalities and it has worked really well. Everyone across the globe has known how to pronounce it and spell it and we receive so many compliments. It is quite popular in Scandinavia and France as well. We call him Hugie at home and his brother calls him Hoogie Boogie 😄😍

theduchessofspork · 07/02/2025 00:27

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/02/2025 14:58

I think it very much depends on your surname. Raphael Smith or Brown might sound a bit odd.

Why? I think they are both good combinations

theduchessofspork · 07/02/2025 00:27

Hugo

Mainly because there are so many R names about right now, and a lot of Raff/ys, although Raphael is nice

I do slightly prefer Hugh though

I don’t think matching names matters

orangeblosssom · 06/02/2025 22:09

Raphael

Oceangrey · 06/02/2025 21:44

Just make sure you also like Raf/Raffy, and also be aware it's increasingly popular in some areas. I know a lot! But it's still a great name.

PrincessOfPreschool · 06/02/2025 21:42

Where I work we had 3 x Raffy/ Raffi/ Raphaels last year or if 22 boys. It was v confusing! They were all called 'Raffy' by parents but we had to make one 'Raphael' as we couldn't distinguish.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 06/02/2025 20:13

Hugo