Do you already have a Raphael?

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Would love to hear from parents who have a DS named Raphael. I'm in two minds about this name - part of me loves it but the other wonders if it would actually work for us. We're half French btw. Can I ask...

1)What do you shorten to (if anything)
2)Do you still love the name as much as when you chose it?
3)What response do you get to it - has DS ever been teased?
4)what nationality are you (feel free not to answer!!!)
5)how does the name work for you ie shouting it across a park or when DS is in trouble?

Thanks lots for your help!

I don't have one myself but I know one, he's 4

He gets called Raf
Raphael when he's getting into trouble or when she's calling him to come back
The mum is white British and the dad is mixed white and Caribbean
I think when he was born everyone she knew was like Raphael that's a ninja turtles name I don't think strangers ever said anything but it suits him down to the ground and personally I love the name because of him he's such a sweetheart! And I think his mum and dad still absolutely love it

Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't because I have no sons but I love the name.

My DB is Raphaël. He is 34 and shortened it to Raph several years ago.

That's interesting blondes - was that for ease or because he didn't like it? And does he pronounce the shortening Raff or Rafe?

I know one that gets shortened to Rafa, rhymes with Jaffa cake.

There was one at my school. Posh British. Never got teased. He shortened it to Raphy.

A very close friend has a Rafael - he's 6 months.
Doesn't get shortened just now but she has said it prob will be rafa.
She is British but married to Spanish chap so has Spanish surname.

I have a Raphael! We shorten it to Raphi/Raph. He is only 2.3 so too young to be teased but we have only ever had positive comments from people. I am English and DP is Italian. I'm pregnant again and struggling to come up with names I love as much as Raphael.

Ds2 was supposed to be Raphael, but we chickened put and it is his middle name. We would have called him Raf - the intention was to use this all the time. We had a few light hearted/good natured Ninja Turtles comments when he was born. We are white British. I will admit that I was concerned about sounding pretentious in doctor's surgery, etc, when his full name would be called out. Silly really. The name we went with suits him better, so no regrets, but obviously in love the name as we still used it as middle name.

my charge goes on a playdate to a Raffy's house. hes 2 and calls his friend Raffy-elle [biggrin]

My 11 year old son is Raphael.He is named after a beloved uncle.We call him Rafi mostly.We do come from a Greek family so he has a greek surname and everyone has always been positive about his name.I love the name and could not imagine him being called anything else.

We have a Raphaela she is 14, is called Raffa, Raphy and Rara.

I LOVE Raphael! It's the name of one of my nephews. His Dad, my DB, is Western European mix (we're Irish, French, Scottish, German mix) and his mum is Greek.

We call him Raphy. I think they've only ever had positive reactions.

I love the name Raphael - but am white British and is so is DH. We have no Continental ancestry/heritage at all....can we rock this name as plain old English people???

I think it's lovely but I think it might work better with an Italian surname....

It's a lovely name, but my personal opinion (prejudice?) is that no, it doesn't work for plain old English folk (like me). I don't think it quite cross - cultural enough just yet.

Then again, the world is a-changing and I'm sure plenty of people would disagree with me!

We have a Rafael (age 10) and we love the name as much as we did when we chose it. We're both white British so I suppose it's not an obvious choice for us. He's never been teased about his name and doesn't see it as unusual himself. He answers to Rafael, Raffi, Raff-Cat (and Toad 2). His friends mainly call him Raffi, although some call him Rafael.

I have a Rafael.

He is 1.

We shorten to Rafa, Raf, Rafs or really whatever comes to mind. I also call him the walking square.

To me short form Raffy sounds like a villain's name but that is not logical.

My family background is Italian but it is not an Italian name as the equivalent is Raffaele.

I chose to spell it the Spanish way for no real reason.

Raphael is actually an English name so no need to be more "exotic" (to tongue in cheek use). It is not commonly used in England as (I believe) the angel Rafael is not recognised in C of e. Therefore tends to be Catholic or Jewish families who have used it but there is no need to be from one of these religions.