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Baby names

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

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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EmpressaurusKitty · 11/04/2025 21:50

Forever & the dog from the Muppets. Although I’ve just looked that up & found he was Rowlf.

I think an entire generation of women are going to associate Ralph with that book. I was 13 & I remember a bunch of us gathering at lunchtime to read & discuss, with one eye & ear on the door in case a teacher came in.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 11/04/2025 21:43

Arlanymor · 11/04/2025 15:24

I like Rafe - Raplh pronounced the traditional way reminds me of Judy Blume's Forever...

Me too. That was my first thought 🤣

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!

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 11/04/2025 20:47

Love Rafe

Hate Ralph pronounced phonetically, it’s like a small dog yapping. And I think calling him Ralph but pronouncing it Rafe would be a PITA

Beautifulweeds · 11/04/2025 18:40

I really like Ralph but I can't pronounce my Rs well so it wasn't an option for me! Xx

MsFogi · 11/04/2025 18:36

Nope sorry - I immediately think of Judy Blume's Forever!

ChateauProvence · 11/04/2025 18:34

Love it x

Original poster
WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 18:33

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

OP posts:
muddyford · 11/04/2025 18:33

Lovely whichever pronunciation. I know a five year old Ralph but pronounced Ralf. Ranulf is even nicer.

Original poster
WhoStoleTheTarts · 11/04/2025 18:31

Reddelilah · 11/04/2025 17:27

Why would you pronounce Ralph as Rafe?

Why not spell it Rafe or Rayf then 🤔

Because that’s the traditional pronunciation 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Differentstarts · 11/04/2025 18:16

I think if you call your kid rafe there in for a lifetime of people pronouncing their name wrong

BoleynMemories13 · 11/04/2025 18:11

I struggle to get my head around Ralph being pronounced 'Rafe'. This spelling definitely looks like it should be 'Ralf', which is really dislike.

I do quite like the Rafe pronunciation, just not with the spelling Ralph.

Moschatelle · 11/04/2025 18:09

Ralph makes me think of Lord of the Flies.
Rafe, written and pronounced as Rafe, is lovely.

Differentstarts · 11/04/2025 18:01

Please don't call your kid Ralph

dumb the simpsons GIF
OverpricedCupcake · 11/04/2025 18:00

It'll always be the name of Michael's penis from Forever by Judy Blume.

Boobyslims · 11/04/2025 17:57

taxcalcconfusion · 11/04/2025 15:48

This was my first thought too!

Show quote history

100% mine also!

Berlinlover · 11/04/2025 17:48

Bigearringsbigsmile · 11/04/2025 17:43

Ralph is the name of Michael's penis in Forever by Judy Blume.

I was just about to say the same thing.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 11/04/2025 17:43

Ralph is the name of Michael's penis in Forever by Judy Blume.

Reddelilah · 11/04/2025 17:27

Why would you pronounce Ralph as Rafe?

Why not spell it Rafe or Rayf then 🤔

OhMyGiddyAunt · 11/04/2025 17:21

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.

If you're going to pronounce it Rafe then I would spell it that way.

I know a Rafe who had the Ralph spelling but in his 40s he finally cracked and had enough of people getting wrong so changed the spelling to Rafe.

Calliopespa · 11/04/2025 17:19

BeaAndBen · 11/04/2025 17:11

Ralph Fiennes seems to manage

Actually I have heard people make eye-roly comments about his insistence on it.

Sulu17 · 11/04/2025 17:17

Love Ralph, pronounced Rafe.

BeaAndBen · 11/04/2025 17:11

Ralph Fiennes seems to manage

Calliopespa · 11/04/2025 17:09

It’s not a bad name op but if it dropped out of your shortlist I’d leave it out because Ralph pronounced Rafe can come across as a bit pedantic and annoying. I know one who constantly corrects people and I do understand why, but sometimes I do just think “can you not just let it go this time?” Also it sometimes sounds like “Rape” the way his partner says it.

Original poster
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.

OP posts: