Opinions on the name Rafferty please?

[seethebeauty]

Hey, I would be grateful for opinions on the name Rafferty for a boy, please. My husband and I are having a massive difference of opinion on this one - I think it's 'cool' but he thinks it's 'posh' and we cannot see where the other is coming from at all! Any thoughts on who is right?

Thank you!

[showmeahero]

I adore it and it was in our top 3 for DS. If we're ever blessed with another DS he will definitely be a Rafferty

[GoodHeavensNoImAChicken]

I know a Rafferty and I’m not a fan, sorry. It comes across as quite pretentious with him. Raffy is a very cute nickname though

[midsomermurderess]

Very much a surname where I have lived, eg Glasgow.

[QuinionsRainbow]

Dn't like it personally, but if you do go for it, you could always consider the original Irish spelling: Raithbheartaigh

[n0ne]

Not keen at all. I really dislike surnames for first names. I know of one toddler Rafferty and see the name come up on this board now and again, but don't see the attraction at all.

[MrsFoxPlus4]

I like Raphael more, well that’s the vibe I get. Rafferty is a great name!

[Ribeebie]

I like it!

[Knicknackpaddyflak]

Rafe or Raphael, lovely. I'm another one that Rafferty is an animal name for.

[AlmaGeddon]

It's Irish isn't it? Makes me think of the song O'Raffertys motor car - definitely not posh.

[moredoll]

Prefer Quinn

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

It’s an Irish surname, yes. No more posh than calling your child Murphy.

[Sonder2]

Someone always has something to say whatever name you choose
I just think of it in the long run will it be shortened if it is do you like the idea of your child being called 'raff' which again is i thinks fine but completely up to you
In regards to the bullying comments people have made yes children can be cruel but it may not be the case then youve possibly made a huge decision based of the what if's

[BackIntoTheSun]

Love it

[thismeansnothing]

Love love love it

It's at the top of my boy list ATM too

[ShowOfHands]

I have a Raff/Raffy but he's a Raphael.

I quite like Rafferty. I've only ever met two and both were v middle class, Joules and Boden clad and had floppy, curly hair. Definitely not chavs.

[Cbeebiesrehab]

To me it sounds like a cool posh kid-would go by Raffy in his teenage years or Rafe. I think it’s lovely and far from ‘chavvy’ as it’s been described.
However I am not Irish and didn’t even know it was a surname (as in I’ve never heard it used as a surname) nor did I know it was the name of Jude Law’s son so I guess it has different connotations for different people.

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

sounds like a cool posh kid
Seriously, do you think a name can make you cool? Whatever your interpretation of cool is.

[JungWan]

An sur name style name is not inherently "less posh" simply for being Irish. Although, using a name, any name, without being certain of cultural context and references is not too smart.

[Rockyroadmallow]

I love it!!
Makes a nice change from all the boys named James, Oliver, Zac etc.

I think it's a lovable roguish name!

I think it's a tad posh but in a good way...kind of like Jasper. It's not on the same level of poshness as, for example, Jolyon or Peregrine.
Go for it OP. It's fab.

[Cbeebiesrehab]

Greyhound yes I think a name can sound cool...I didn’t say it makes you cool.

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

Sorry, I misunderstood.

[BooMare]

Gorgeous name.

[Sessy19]

If your OH isn’t a fan, it just falls off the list though, presumably?

I’m not sure it’s considered posh, but maybe it’s a bit Shoreditch-hipster, if thatgas any relevance to you?

I think it’s perfectly acceptable. If you’re not posh, your son won’t be posh whatever his name...it’s not a name that will make anyone posh, but the way they behave, etc.

[UnrelentingFruitScoffer]

Rafferty is an Irish surname, which was an Anglicized form of Ó Rabhartaigh.

Hence also found in Liverpool and Glasgow and other places that had a lot of Irish immigration back in the day.

I’ve never heard of it as a forename. To someone who knows it as a surname, it just sounds stupid as a forename. A bit like calling yourself Carter or Wheelwright or Armstrong.