Fabian or Raphael (Rafe for short)

[FunnysInTheGarden]

which do you like?

Fabian.

Raphael but not Rafe

fabian definitely.

but i know several raphaels so that could be clouding my judgement.

Neither (you did ask)

Rafe is the best.

There is/was a Tory candidate called Fabian in my home constituency this year and he was creepy-crawly (sorry to anyone who is friends with/married to him). If he gets big in the government after you have called your child Fabian then that might be annoying.

You are right I did ask. Never put it to the jury before DS's were born but tis interesting that Fabian is the favourite, since that was the most 'risque' choice of both DS's

Fabian. I like both fwiw. I like Raphael and Rafa but not Rafe, that is so uptight.

I like both but love love LOVE Fabian, couldn't get any friends or family to agree with me while I was pregnant though. Please call your child Fabian so I can tell everyone it is a more normal choice and then have a son with that name myself (big sheep wuss emoticon).

It's quite normal in the US apparently, anyway.

FWIW I also like the names Bartholomew, Theodore, Dennis and Eric. So shoot me.

Fabian

Sequins, DS1 who is 5 is called Fabian! So now you have a precedent

Love Fabian. Also Florian. Both quite popular in Germany.

I like Fabian. I really, really dislike Rafe.

Love Bartholomew but dp looked at me in horror when I suggested it!

Sorry, but they're both incredibly pretentious and, well, awful. I live in a nauseatingly (is this a word?!) middle-class area, but those names would raise a snigger even around here.

Sorry, sorry, but you did ask!

I really like both, but slightly prefer Fabian. But Raphael is lovely too.

BoojaB, what is 'nauseating' about a middle class area ?

Raphael.

I went to school with a girl called Fabian and I've never known another so I always thought it was a girls name.

There is a little Rafe in My Dd's nursery he is a very nice ans sweet little boy.

Lifeas3plus1 are you sure of the spelling? the only girl's name I can think off that sounds like Fabian is Fabienne.

There are a few little Rafes for Raphael round here (Sarf London) - would definitely not raise a snigger.

Sorry, but neither. I'm in the US though, so I know we have different preferences. On that note, not sure where here Fabian would be considered normal. There's a singer called Fabian who always comes to mind, kind of 60's, wavy hair, very good teeth sort of guy.

I think Fabian is quite normal among African Americans actually. Not that that matters or makes any difference to anything, just that's what I read when I wanted to use the name.

Both are French names and I shudder a little bit to think about how Fabian would be pronounced in the UK.

Not keen on either, but Fabian is preferable.

Fabe + ian. It is not just French, it has Latin origins.

Raff ay el. This is biblical anyway.

Not that bad surely Cote?

I came upon this thread by mistake but FWIW I worked with a boy called Fabian about 15 years ago, he was lovely, but a bit naughty.. lol

I really like Fabian and Rafe, not keen on Raphael

and Cote - isn't it Fabien (pronounced fa-bi-en) in france?