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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rafe

40 replies

gollyimholly · 01/07/2025 21:24

I love the name Rafe. But DH says it looks and sounds like "rape". I would never have associated it but now he's said it I'm wondering how others see it.

Is he right? 😭

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okydokethen · 09/07/2025 10:30

Yeah if DH has that in his mind then you couldn’t use it, I can see what he means.

noidea69 · 09/07/2025 10:22

gollyimholly · 09/07/2025 10:15

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I still really like the name but sadly it's not going to happen as DH just doesn't like the sound of it.

i think thats fair, has to be a joint decision with a name you are both comfortable with.

Original poster
gollyimholly · 09/07/2025 10:15

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I still really like the name but sadly it's not going to happen as DH just doesn't like the sound of it.

OP posts:
Nooster18 · 09/07/2025 06:22

I went with Raef. One person pronounced it Reef once when he was a baby (I also knew of an actual Reef at the time) but only that one instance of confusion in 8 years Smile

TidyAmberPoster · 09/07/2025 05:31

I love it!

Bournetilly · 06/07/2025 05:50

I thought it was going to be like pronounced Rafee which I like but I don’t like Rafe.

NoviceScoutMum · 06/07/2025 05:50

Always makes me thing of the little join between the two halves of a scrotum. Sorry!

NotrialNodeal · 06/07/2025 05:46

Yeah now you're husband points it out....imagine the school kids. It's a no.

McTootsBagpipes · 06/07/2025 05:42

raphe /rā′fē″/

noun
A seamlike line or ridge between two similar parts of a body organ, as in the scrotum.

Verbally the same as Rafe. Who wants to be named after the join line on a ball sack?

Iamthemoom · 04/07/2025 19:39

I love it. Gorgeous name. I don’t see that association at all. I’ve known a couple of Rafes and they were lovely.

paulhollywoodshairgel · 04/07/2025 19:28

i know 1 rafe and he bullied my daughter so that’s why I hate it! It also sounds a bit posh boy as well. And reminds me of Voldemort. Rafferty or Ralphie is nice.

Mollymandymilly · 04/07/2025 19:26

DD1 is dating a Rafe in 6th form college. I think it’s a lovely name because he’s a lovely boy.
I’m not aware of any bullying about his name. In fact he’s said he likes having a “rare but short name” because it means he’s called it by other boys, whereas all those with well-used names (Josh Alex Harry etc) or long names get called their surnames instead.

SueSheeMee · 04/07/2025 19:23

I have a 40 year old family member named Raef.

wafflesmgee · 04/07/2025 19:20

Makes me think of weird ghostly things like a wraith … bit sinister.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 04/07/2025 19:17

Nah - perhaps if it was unusual but it’s quite popular

Lumirubin · 04/07/2025 09:41

Honestly im sorry if this ruins the name further but medically the Raphe (pronounced like safe) is the line that runs down the penis. So spelling Rafe like Ralph makes it look even more like the medical term in my opinion. It's a nice name, but as someone who is medically trained this is all I associated it with, and it only takes one kid to pick up on it before your kid is teased for sharing a name with something penile.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/07/2025 23:05

NormaSears · 01/07/2025 21:57

'Ra*e' is precisely my thought before I opened the thread.

Mine too.

MrsO3 · 03/07/2025 22:57

I’ve got to be honest, it only reminds me of bad things…
Ra*e, ‘chafe’ or ‘rife’

NoelFaraday · 02/07/2025 20:19

I knew a Raphael, always called Rafe, sadly no longer with us. Lovely name.

Original poster
gollyimholly · 02/07/2025 20:18

Ah wow thanks everyone for your replies. It does seem a bit of a mixed bag...

I don't know any Rafes/Ralphs myself so at least it's not oversaturated where I am I guess.

I still like the name a lot but don't want future DC to be bullied or anything 😭

OP posts:
Appleday55 · 02/07/2025 17:43

I like it! I didnt think of rape

dontforgetme · 02/07/2025 17:41

I think it’s gorgeous op. My first thought was Rafe Spall, always thought his name is lovely. Never once thought rape.

liveforsummer · 02/07/2025 17:31

I’m afraid DH may be right, that's what my brain automatically read til I clocked the subject and then re read

alcoholnightmare · 02/07/2025 15:56

I agree with your husband - entire reason we didn’t give the name to any of our sons. My husband loved the name

pontipinemum · 02/07/2025 15:54

I like it, I didn't think of rape at all. I also wouldn't spell it Ralph that it me is absolutely Ralf