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Baby names

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Original poster

Raphael or Ralph?

31 replies

delilah88 · 29/01/2013 12:22

Which is nicer?

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IceNoSlice · 29/01/2013 12:25

Like them both actually. Not usually my type of name so i've surprised myself there. Ralph, but only by a wee bit.

Mellymog · 29/01/2013 12:27

Ralph. I like this but DH has said no.

NowPlayingZone · 29/01/2013 12:34

Raphael. Ralph has connotations from the judy Blume book for me, though not sure how popular they still are.

DearOldWrinklyMum · 29/01/2013 12:34

Ralph

BinarySolo · 29/01/2013 12:50

I thought of Judy Blume too!

HoratiaWinwood · 29/01/2013 12:51

Raphael, definitely.

Have you discounted Rafferty? I know a lovely small one. Potential nicknames are the same.

Original poster
delilah88 · 29/01/2013 12:54

I know a dog called Rafferty so that's out!

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Theas18 · 29/01/2013 12:58

Judy Blume is a non issue now as far as I know. None of my 3 teens have read the teen books.

Ralph or Rafe pronunciation ?

PuffPants · 29/01/2013 12:59

Sorry, Ralph makes me think of Judy Blume too.

noblegiraffe · 29/01/2013 13:00

Not Ralph, penis connotations aside, it also means to vomit. It's not a nice sound.

IceNoSlice · 29/01/2013 13:30

Ralph has penis connotations? Didn't know that

However you could say the same of William or Richard...

bringmeroses · 29/01/2013 13:32

noblegiraffe that's what I thought (about the vomiting). For that reason Raphael, I like the medieval connotations too.

bringmeroses · 29/01/2013 13:33

Though isn't Raphael a ninja turtle? Still why not!

juneau · 29/01/2013 13:36

What would put me off both names is the pronunciation thing.

Raph-ayl or Raph-eye-ell?
Ralph or Rafe?

I like Raph-ayl best, but hate it when people pron. it Raph-eye-ell.

IceNoSlice · 29/01/2013 13:38

Hahaha at ninja turtle. So long as you don't go for Donatello I reckon you'll be alright. And definitely not Splinter.

Original poster
delilah88 · 29/01/2013 17:00

Lol. Does Ralph mean penis? I don't get that association.

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Yfronts · 29/01/2013 17:21

Rafe, Rufus

BinarySolo · 30/01/2013 06:49

Not exactly delilah. In the Judy Blume book Forever (I think!) the boyfriend has named his penis Ralph. For those of us that read it skipped to the dirty bits as teens Ralph will always be associated with willies!

DharmaBumpkin · 30/01/2013 06:58

To ralph = to vomit.

Couldn't use it!

Original poster
delilah88 · 30/01/2013 11:05

I read Forever but don't remember that! I was more of an 'Are you there God, it's me, Margaret' kind of girl Wink

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Colyngbourne · 30/01/2013 11:28

Seriously, the number of people who have read Judy Blume's Forever is a) not major b) decreasing (you don't find it in libraries or bookshops these days c) mostly are people in the 40's+, so any connotations from the name Ralph are not worth counting.

Both names are great.
I prefer the "Rafe" pronunciation of Ralph - it was always pronounced that way until Edwardian times.

aoife24 · 30/01/2013 19:24

Raphael is fabulous.

Ranthambore · 30/01/2013 19:28

Ralph (assuming pronounced like 'rafe' not 'ralf')

BinarySolo · 30/01/2013 19:33

40s? 40s? Hurrumph! I'm mid 30s actually! Pfft!

It would put me off because I do remember the reference, as others on this thread do. HOWEVER, it would be a daft reason to not use a name you love.

I once knew a John Thomas, so his parents really had no problem with penis associations!

blindworm · 30/01/2013 19:37

I prefer Raphael, but they're both nice.