Ralph pronounce Rafe

[toastonbean]

Is it just too 'think I'm upper class'??

I love it.

Everyone will call him Ralph (pronounces Ralf) though won't they?!

Belvoir is pronounced Beaver!

St John pronounced Sinjun

I would do Raphael, Nn ‘Rafe’.

Rafe as a name looks like bargain basement phonetic spelling like some of the yooneek spellings, even if it is not.

I like Ralph pronounced Rafe, like Fiennes.

I think Rafe is the traditional English pronunciation of Ralph, so classic rather than pretentious, and I really like the way it sounds.

I think Fiennes and Vaughan Williams when it's pronounced 'Rafe' (pronounced the 'American' way, my main association is with Judy Blume's Forever - although that probably won't be familiar to younger generations).

However, you are going get lots of people either misspelling or mispronouncing it.

Does Rafe sound like Safe?

Yes Edthebear

Am surprised a bunch of mumsnetters aren’t familiar with the Ralph / Rafe thing
I think it’s a nice name but it depends how you feel about constantly explaining / correcting - if it doesn’t bother you then go for it.

I do know Ralph can be pronounced Rafe but it wouldn't be my first attempt at pronouncing it.

I've just discovered that Ralph Feinnes is actually Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes.Now that screams Posh!

I am very common and not English (but have Irish roots) and I know that there's an English name that looks like Ralph but is pronounced Rafe. When I first heard it (must've been in my early teens? I'm in my 40s now) I thought it was bizarre as hell obviously but sure the Irish have their own oddnesses with names and the English are quite mad with oddnesses in names and spellings so let live I suppose. There's another English name that messes with your mind, but I can't think of it now ... It'll come to me.

That said, if the Ralph-but-Rafe spelling and pronunciation isn't common in your family or in your circles it'll seem a little pretentious I think but am no expert on the English class system.

My Dads named Ralph. He's never forgiven his mother for it.

Rafe is just wrong. It's Ralph, pronounced Rafe.

Yep!

Ralph is pronounced Rafe. Pronounce it Ralf and you look a bit uneducated.

I really do love the name.

Perhaps we could start an awareness campaign??

With a catchy slogan

^"Just play it safe, pronounce it Ralph!"
^
(That rhymes btw)

my main association is with Judy Blume's Forever

@CaitlinsYellowSocks Same here! If the name Ralph has declined in popularity in the last three or so decades that has to be partly the reason why...

@OhTheRoses

Ha and thank you for the Beauchamp Place confirmation- I used to have my hair done on that street years ago and would always shy away from pronouncing it correctly to the cabbies as I just wasn't sure I was right or not

"Beachum/bowschump place pls sir!"

Always Ralph (pronounced Rafe) as far as i know. Rafe makes it look like you can’t spell. Raife would make me assume it was a foreign homonym.

Pronouncing the L would make me assume American origins (but mostly, now i think about it, because of the Simpsons ).

I know a Ralph, pronounced Ralf and he's so pompous! I know a German Ralf and he's great.

How do you feel about Rufus?

""Just play it safe, pronounce it Ralph!""

Brilliant!

I know a 2 year old Ralphie (pronounced ral-fee).

I know two men with this name. One is English and it’s spelt Ralph and pronounced, the other is German and it’s spelt Ralf and propounded Ralf.

So I think you’re right OP!

Sorry missed Rafe from my message above. The English man is spelt Ralph and pronounced Rafe.

On the subject of place names, I once worked for an American who was in the UK on work assignment. He told me he had a client meeting in Worcestershire, but instead of pronouncing it Woostersheer, he said Were-sess-ter-shyre. Couldn't help smiling at that one.

Reminds me of the old advert with the lady (from New Orleans?) cooking a jambalaya (or something) and she says

"Add some WOO-CHESTER-SHIIIIRE SAUCE!"

I'm also surprised that so many people who frequent the Mumsnet baby names board don't know about the Ralph-pronounced-Rafe thing. The Rafe spelling makes you look uncultured (!)

I'd spell it Ralph and put up with correcting people. Agree with pp that Rafe looks made up. But tbh I'd also only use that name if I could afford private schooling for little Ralph.

I'm with Gilbert and Sullivan on this one (and the Fiennes)
Ralph! That name! Remorse, remorse!