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Baby names

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

Original poster

Roman or Raphael?

33 replies

SelenaM · 24/03/2025 07:29

Which for a baby boy ?

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Mudkipper · 03/04/2025 17:44

Raphael.

mathanxiety · 03/04/2025 15:30

Raphael

Cutesbabasmummy · 03/04/2025 15:25

Roman makes me think of Roman Abramovich. But as long as you like it who cares?! My son is Theodore Rafael George - I loved Raphael as a first name but not the shortened versions. The Spanish spelling of Rafael is due to his Spanish conception.

CutFlowers · 29/03/2025 02:35

I love Rafael , Raffi and Rafe
Roman is OK but very popular.

caringcarer · 29/03/2025 01:50

I've got an 18 year old Roman and most others I've heard of are younger. I love the name.

Northernsoul90 · 29/03/2025 00:05

Raphael definitely. Raffie as a nickname is lovely. Not keen on Roman.

Sherry1978 · 28/03/2025 23:41

I was in this predicament 9 years ago. Roman sounded too harsh in the end and I liked the angel connection to Raphael. I also loved that it was French, Spanish, Italian. International. He lives up to his name and is an absolute cherub. A true kind hearted soul ❤️

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 28/03/2025 23:35

Raphael

I think Roman is a bit the new Ryan

Emanwenym · 28/03/2025 19:29

Rafael where there is South-American heritage. It's the Raffa-yell UK pronunciation I dislike.

Jeschara · 28/03/2025 18:40

I have a Grandson called Rafael, lovely name. South American heritage.
I don't like Roman.

BunnyRuddington · 28/03/2025 09:00

I prefer Raphael as the diminutives are good.

i might he slightly influenced by the only Roman my DC went to school with got an underage girl PG and is now in a YOI for drug dealing…

Zeitumschaltung · 25/03/2025 20:48

Raphael is lovely

Emanwenym · 25/03/2025 20:44

@TumbledTussocks , it is a name and it's popular. I don't like it.
Roman Polanski - Wikipedia

TumbledTussocks · 25/03/2025 20:31

Think there’s some harsh comments on Roman as a name here. I’ve known a couple, it’s already a real name Blush

RuthW · 25/03/2025 16:19

I love Roman

Firsttimebabymummy · 25/03/2025 14:12

Moreteaandchocolate · 24/03/2025 09:28

I like Raphael for its nn options (Raffy / Raff / Rafe) but I find the full name a bit “frilly”.

Roman has a simple, masculine sound, but because I haven’t met anyone with the name I do associate it with the Romans! I prefer Ronan or Rowan for that reason, but I’d pick Roman from your options.

Agree.

Mussol · 25/03/2025 13:09

Bluelavenders · 25/03/2025 07:45

In style & beauty there is a thread about Roman the fashion shop.

My first thought was archaeological digs and my second thought was the fashion chain.

OP, would you consider Ronan? It's one of the more widely used Irish names so it wouldn't be weird to choose it even if you don't have any Irish connection. When your son is learning about Romans in primary school the teasing is probably going to get old fast.

I love Raphael and it was high up on my own list of baby names, but my husband had a similar reaction to the diminutives as @Bluelavenders. I'm half Catalan, half Lebanese, which is one reason why I was drawn to the name - it's used in Catalunya and in the Lebanese Christian community, where the nickname is Rafi. To me it sounds lovely, but I can see how an English speaker might have different associations.

Bluelavenders · 25/03/2025 07:45

In style & beauty there is a thread about Roman the fashion shop.

MirandaBlu · 24/03/2025 23:22

Sorry; duplicate.

MirandaBlu · 24/03/2025 23:21

Love Raphael - although I would probably spell it Rafael.

Roman is a nice enough name purely based on sound, but the fact that it is a word meaning "a novel" in many European languages (Belarussian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian - and I'm sure I've missed some) puts me off. "Roman" is far too widely used as a common noun to be comfortably used as person's name, IMO.

Correlation · 24/03/2025 22:48

Raphael

Normallynumb · 24/03/2025 22:47

Raphael

farmlife2 · 24/03/2025 22:11

I like Raphael and would go with Raffie as a nickname.

I don't like Roman. I think it's too hard sounding. Rowan is okay though.

Only my opinion.

TrickyD · 24/03/2025 22:07

We have a DGS called Rafael, (not Raphael because his mum is from Brazil).
NN Raff or Rafa. I like it. And even if I didn’t I would not say so, because parents not ILs chose their children’s names.

username462025 · 24/03/2025 14:14

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.