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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please tell me that I can use these names ...

31 replies

cheekster · 03/05/2009 21:45

Boy - Rafe

Girl - Thea

But wait, our surname is Smith.

I love both names soooooo much and cant think of any other names I love as much, but I have a feeling that youre going to say they sound crap with our surname.

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maryz · 05/05/2009 23:29

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maryz · 05/05/2009 23:28

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TheFallenMadonna · 05/05/2009 23:25

I'm sitting here saying it over and over and don't seem to be having any problems with Thea Smith. Thea nicer than Dorothea IMO, and much nicer than Theodora.

screamingabdab · 05/05/2009 23:21

Sorry. I really dislike both of them. And I don't think they go with you surname.

Well, you did ask .......

mickeylou · 05/05/2009 15:51

go for a longer middle name and they are both fine with Smith. Thea very nice. Rafe not my cup of tea but its not my baby!!

mrswoolf · 05/05/2009 13:22

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jellybeans · 05/05/2009 12:44

Not keen on your boys name but like Thea. Both sound OK.

walkingprimrose · 04/05/2009 22:52

I think Thea Smith is fine
I think Rafe Smith is OK - love Rafe.

Do you like Rafferty? (I do)

Are you married? How about doublebarrelling your maiden name & Smith? (I know this sounds a bit extreme, but it's just another angle).

eg.

Rafe 'Towerson'- Smith
Rafe 'Anderson'- Smith

(Some randon surnmes I though of!)

lockets · 04/05/2009 12:44

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sophieandbelly · 04/05/2009 11:08

i think is fine how often do we really say our full names, children grown into there names so go for it xx

ninedragons · 04/05/2009 11:06

A Thea Smith is almost certain to have a lisp . I agree with BA that Theodora is marginally better. Isadora is even better than that.

dizzydixies · 04/05/2009 10:49

Thea Smith absolutely fine
Rafe Smith ok but I would probably go long and used shortened version too

lockets · 04/05/2009 10:37

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IheartNY · 04/05/2009 10:36

They arent the most perfect names to go with Smith but they are by no means bad with it at all!
I think they sound fine and personally would much much rather have a name that sounds ok with the surname that I loved rather than a name I thought was ok but went perfectly with the surname iyswim.

SamJamsmum · 04/05/2009 10:33

I think that they are both great names. I don't think you need to have longer names but I'm afraid in both cases you have to concentrate when you say the full name due to all the f/th sounds. I probably wouldn't choose them for that reason but I don't think it's a reason to avoid them if you absolutely love them.

nappyaddict · 04/05/2009 10:27

Or Theodora.

I like both Raphael and Rafe.

nappyaddict · 04/05/2009 10:27

Or Theodora.

I like both Raphael and Rafe.

nappyaddict · 04/05/2009 10:25

I would go for Dorothea.

Colinfirth · 04/05/2009 10:20

Could you have Raphael and Rafe for short? - better rhythm...

Colinfirth · 04/05/2009 10:20

Could you have Raphael and Rafe for short? - better rhythm...

BonsoirAnna · 04/05/2009 10:17

Theodora Smith is a bit better IMO (though not ideal, because of double th).

BonsoirAnna · 04/05/2009 10:16

I agree, you need a longer, more melodious first name with Smith as a surname. And you should avoid the same phonemes as your surname in the first name. Thea Smith is very hard to say.

lotspot · 04/05/2009 10:09

Thea sounds better than Rafe with Smith but if they are the names you want to use then they both work fine imo

Thea is a beautiful name by the way

thisisyesterday · 03/05/2009 21:55

both sound fine to me

Heated · 03/05/2009 21:55

No, imo. We have a similarish problem with our surname and we ended up lisping it to much laughter, so Thea (Dorothea) never made the list. Rafe not so bad but don't think it flows. Sorry to be critical.