anyone considering Rafferty??

[Casey24]

Hello! I'm having real difficultly coming up with a nice authentic sounding name, that is a bit 'different'

I read Jude Law's son is called Rafferty and I really love it - esp. shortened to Raffie.

But I'm loathed to go with a name just because it has a celebrity association, so I just wanted to find out if it's generally popular now....any thoughts??

I quite like it. Raffie sounds great for a little boy but not so much for a grown man - could he be Raff in later life?

A friend has used this name. Usually shortened to Raff. I really like it.

I like it. I don't think it's that popular, only know of one who is 8. Also love the nn Raffie.

Very naff. Bit 'footballers wives'.

It always makes me think of 'riff raff'. To my Irish ear, it sounds as common as Murphy (and I have friends and relatives with this surname but I still get this reaction to it).

However, if you want a name that is similar but a lot more unusual, how about Raftery?
Fwiw, Anthony Raftery (Antoine Ó Raifteirí) was a famous Irish poet of the late 18th/early 19th century.

It's very surnamey to me. I always think of it as the same type of name as Finn, Flynn, Quinn, Cooper etc.

It is a surname to me but when I hear it as a first name it sounds a bit 'wannabe celeb'.

I really like it. I know of one, whose about 4. I'd use it for a boy but it really doesn't go with DD's name.

Not that my H.O matters a jot but I think it's awful, sorry

I know a baby Raphael, nn Raffie, I think it's really cute name and suits all ages.

I love it.

I love it too.

I have a Rafferty in my family and it suits him though he is still only little. It can be toughened up to Raff when he's older. Never known another one!

Not my cup of tea at all, sounds like a dogs name to me, sorry.

I know a Raff (Raphael). Nicer than Rafferty.

And also a Ninja Turtle

Great name. Love it

My Raphael is a Raf/Raffi.

Oh dear using surnames as first names I just don't like it sorry!

I'm assuming you're not Irish?

Also raff/raffie sounds like a noise you make in your throat, sorry again

I have one! I love it. We live in California and I have only met two others here. There is a Rafferty Peak in Yosemite and one was named after that, the other was a baby whose mother approached me in the park to say she had heard me calling to my son and had used the name!! We shorten to Raffa - we started with the nickname as we loved Rafa.
Rafa is extremely popular here as a derivative of Raphael. However as we are not hispanic we wanted a more British-sounding name to reflect our sons heritage, and Rafferty was the perfect choice.
My second choice was Arthur and so glad we avoided that as now know 5 baby Arthurs, although I also loved Art as a nickname.

I think it's quite popular, especially in London, but where I am now, in Yorkshire, I don't know any. I think it is nice but I don't think it will date well plus all the people I know who used it/considered it are uber posh- not sure if it bothers you that it has a bit of a class divide but thought I would mention x

thanks Ladies - seems its gaining in popularity! It's definitely on my list, thou DH isn't too sure...

It seems to be somewhat popular in my area. There are a few Rafferty, Raffie and Rafas around. I think it is quite a nice sounding name but wouldn't really consider it very unique/different.

Love it

Raphael is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in my mind.

Grumpelstiltskin I'm not sure "Raff" is a "toughened up" name no matter how you spin it. I liken it to "Seb", which is also a nickname that makes my teeth itch.

If you love the name then go for it, OP, though I'd probably listen to your DH.