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Baby names

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Original poster

Ralph?

61 replies

WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 15:09

I’m due in a couple of weeks with a baby boy, we’ve got a shortlist but we’ve not settled on a name yet. One name I was considering early on but that fell off the shortlist was Ralph (Rafe?), but I’m now considering it again. Would appreciate any opinions, is this cute and classic or are the pregnancy hormones getting to me?

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Eenameenadeeka · 14/04/2025 00:41

I know a Rafe, that's how they spell it though. I think that's a lovely name. I didn't know that you could pronounce Ralph that way, might cause confusion

Snorlaxo · 14/04/2025 00:27

I would avoid Ralph because of the Simpsons but Rafe/Rafa are great names.

The Simpsons is still on TV and more episodes are being created so it’s not an old reference.

Agii · 14/04/2025 00:21

I’ve got one named Ralph. And his name is absolutely fine. Well, at least it is absolutely fine in Germany and Nordic countries. Disregard the bias.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 14/04/2025 00:04

Melancholyflower · 11/04/2025 22:43

Is it? Because I’ve only ever heard of Ralph Fiennes pronouncing it that way.

Show quote history

Yes it is

The phonetic pronunciation is more recent

Original poster
WhoStoleTheTarts · 12/04/2025 09:36

Thanks everyone for the input! I’ve always heard the Rafe pronunciation in the UK, I thought the Ralf pronunciation was more American but tbh I quite like both.

Anyway penises and vomiting aside, I still think it’s a nice name but I don’t know what this baby is going to be called 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
WhoStoleTheTarts · 12/04/2025 09:33

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 11/04/2025 21:43

I have a Rafe, we had the same thought re: the spelling, OP. I didn't want him to have a lifetime of saying "Ralph pronounced Rafe" and besides, it has a rather "aspirational" overtone that way that I wanted to avoid.

Oddly, it's by far the most popular of my three kids' names but we get loads of mispronunciations! Raffy and Raf-uh especially. I find myself saying "Rafe like safe" a lot. 😂

Still wouldn't change it, I love his name!

Yes I know what you mean about the aspirational overtone, that’s one of the main things that’s putting me off. That’s interesting about all the mispronunciations, I wouldn’t have thought it was difficult to pronounce at all!

OP posts:
jambunny · 12/04/2025 07:31

If you call him Ralph, people will call him Ralph, not Rafe.

homemadebasilpesto · 12/04/2025 06:43

WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 17:04

So the Ralph/Rafe thing is because we’d be pronouncing it Rafe, so I don’t know if I’d spend the next 18 years correcting people’s pronunciation if everyone is going to assume it would be pronounced like Ralf.

I didn't know there was another way other than Ralf, as a pronunciation. I don't like the name but I did go to a school with a lovely Ralph. Nicest boy in the class, a real sweetie. Very kind. So it has good connotations for me.

EmpressaurusKitty · 12/04/2025 06:39

Differentstarts · 12/04/2025 01:30

Everyone saying they like the name Rafe how do you even pronounce that is it rayfe or Raffey or Ralph or something else

Rayf, to rhyme with safe.

Differentstarts · 12/04/2025 01:30

Everyone saying they like the name Rafe how do you even pronounce that is it rayfe or Raffey or Ralph or something else

HeySnoodie · 12/04/2025 01:21

Love Rafe

GiddyCrab · 12/04/2025 01:14

I wouldn't. Awful 😖

Worldinyourhands · 12/04/2025 00:26

Immediately thought of Judy Blume Forever and the penis name. I get that it's an outdated reference but I'm not yet 40 so you'd have decades of people making that association still.

Don't pronounce it Rafe that's pretentious AF.

I don't like the sound of 'Ral-F' though either - bit of a throwing up kinda noise.

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 11/04/2025 23:43

Great name - just don’t add ‘ie’ to the end. Sounds like a golden retriever

stilll · 11/04/2025 23:39

Rafe is a very old English Nordic-influenced name in its own right and predates the French-influenced Ralph. I love Rafe, gorgeous name.

RomainingCalm · 11/04/2025 23:36

WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 18:33

I’m not that worried about the penis thing tbh, I think that’s a pretty dated reference.

It may be dated but the Netflix version of Forever is due to come out next month so it might be worth a consideration.

wishiwasupahill · 11/04/2025 23:35

Reddelilah · 11/04/2025 17:27

Why would you pronounce Ralph as Rafe?

Why not spell it Rafe or Rayf then 🤔

This is what I’m wondering too.

I’ve only ever known Ralph to be pronounced as it’s spelt - with the L.

Why wouldn’t you pronounce?

I always thought Rafe was a totally different name.

Melancholyflower · 11/04/2025 23:31

Fifthtimelucky · 11/04/2025 23:16

@Melancholyflower I can think of two musical Ralphs with the Rafe pronounciation, both of whom date to the 1870s.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one. The other is the hero of HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. We know it was pronounced that way because it rhymes with “waif”.

Of course, I forgot about Vaughan Williams (don’t know much G&S), but can’t think of any others in more recent times.

Fifthtimelucky · 11/04/2025 23:16

@Melancholyflower I can think of two musical Ralphs with the Rafe pronounciation, both of whom date to the 1870s.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one. The other is the hero of HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. We know it was pronounced that way because it rhymes with “waif”.

Italiangreyhound · 11/04/2025 23:08

Like Ralph.

BootballJoy · 11/04/2025 23:07

Ralph pronounced Rafe is the traditional way, but the tradition has dated out to the point that hardly anyone is used to it anymore.

(Random tangent- apparently wolves used to be pronounced wohves. I guess people ignored the letter l a bit more.)

If it doesn't bother you having to correct people I'd go for it. I like the name either way.

BatchCookBabe · 11/04/2025 22:44

NO. (Sorry.)

Melancholyflower · 11/04/2025 22:43

WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 18:31

Because that’s the traditional pronunciation 🤷🏼‍♀️

Show quote history

Is it? Because I’ve only ever heard of Ralph Fiennes pronouncing it that way.

EverythingIsComputer · 11/04/2025 22:08

Yeah will always make me think of a pecker thanks to Judy Blume.

I think it was on Grace Dent’s podcast Rafe Spall told a story about drunkenly telling Ralph Fiennes his name was spelt incorrectly.

Beenquee · 11/04/2025 21:55

WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 17:04

So the Ralph/Rafe thing is because we’d be pronouncing it Rafe, so I don’t know if I’d spend the next 18 years correcting people’s pronunciation if everyone is going to assume it would be pronounced like Ralf.

its prerty date now for a Rafe to be spelled Ralph a la Ralph Fiennes, and you’d (he) def be spelling it out to people.
I’m old enough to only think of Judy Blume, and the synonym for throwing up with the Ralf pronunciation I’m afraid .
I really like Rafe and Rafael (Raphie) though