Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Theo or Raphael?

107 replies

MrsMummyBx · 27/12/2019 04:45

Help!!! Need a name for our DS2 who is already here!! DS1 is Hugo. DH and I like Theo and also Raphael but can’t agree which one. I like both and don’t have a particular preference - thoughts on both below.

I like Theo but worried it’s well used in his age group, though I personally only know one Theo who doesn’t even live in the UK. We live in the south east. Also worried it might not be strong enough / with enough gravitas. I don’t particularly like Theodore so would only name him Theo. However I do think it goes nicely with Hugo.

I like Raphael but not sure if it’s too ‘arty’ for more serious things when he’s older- also the name with a ‘ph’ spelling seems to be a Jewish name (we aren’t Jewish), but at the same time it’s also the English spelling of the name - so not sure I care about inference of another religion. The spelling ‘Rafael’ is a Spanish etc spelling but I want an English spelt name as hubby is Italian so the child will already have an Italian surname and want an English first name to reflect both sides of his heritage.

Also like Jasper but yet to convince DH.

Preferences on the above two names please - also suggestions on any others are welcome!! We need to decide ASAP!!

Thank you xx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
daisypond · 28/12/2019 06:38

I like both Theo and Raphael but Hugo and Theo are too matchy. Raphael doesn’t quite go either. Rufus and Rory are great.
Gabriel?
Guy?
Marcus?
Richard?
Edward?

Grufallosfriends · 28/12/2019 08:28

Rory and Rufus can be tricky for people who struggle with their Rs.

How about Marcus, Quentin or Fabian?

xJodiex · 28/12/2019 13:04

Out of all the names mentioned by others I like Rory the best.

MikeUniformMike · 28/12/2019 13:14

I like Leo but don't like Theo. I'm not keen on names with 'th' in them, other than Elizabeth.

OhHolyNightWaking · 28/12/2019 13:46

What does your gut say OP? When I looked at my babies I got an overwhelming sense of which name was right for them. It was possibly hormones, but I really did feel it.

Of your original names I prefer Theo, although I prefer it as a nickname TBH.
Hugo is a lovely name. What about Wilbur?

Butterfly005 · 28/12/2019 13:47

I really like both but prefer Theo.

MrsMummyBx · 28/12/2019 16:02

@Grufallosfriends this is a good point re pronunciation, also why I think I’m less keen on Rory. I like it as a name but we live in Essex and pronounced with a strong Essex accent, would ruin it. Similarly Theo may get pronounced (including by DH!) as Feeo.

OP posts:
MrsMummyBx · 28/12/2019 16:14

@MikeUniformMike DH loves Leo also but I’m off it as I’ve gone off Theo since posting the above due to over popularity. I know one also who is just a month older than my DS2 so I think there’s probably something in it.

OP posts:
MrsMummyBx · 28/12/2019 16:23

@OhHolyNightWaking I know exactly what you mean! I had liked Sebastian originally but he’s definitely not a Sebastian!

As above, I’ve now discounted Theo - so it’s Raphael or any of the new options suggested by you lovely people!

OP posts:
TobyeBella · 28/12/2019 16:29

Maxim
Gregory
Alistair
Alexander
Gabriel
Caspar
Elliot
Henry
Thomas
William
Jonathan
Christopher
Felix
Dexter
Oliver
Louis
Lawrence
Fredrick
Samuel
Benjamin
Edward
Edwin
Wilfred
Edmund
Quentin
Victor
Vincent
Hector
Julian
Nathaniel
Andrew
George
Alfred
Charles
Owen
Evan
Euan
Percy

Congratulations!

LarkDescending · 28/12/2019 16:33

Raphael is lovely.

Bruno also came to mind, though may be too rhymey with Hugo.

littlealexhorne · 28/12/2019 17:40

Rufus makes me think of a dogs name more than a persons name! I like Rory best out of those still in consideration.

MrsMummyBx · 28/12/2019 21:13

@TobyeBella a fab list of names! Thank you!

@LarkDescending unfortunately one of his lovely cousins has this name!

@littlealexhorne hmm definitely Rufus does remind me of a dogs name but I do really like it anyway!

OP posts:
TobyeBella · 29/12/2019 07:33

Also?

Tobias
Robert
Eric
Dominic
Marcus
Miles
Daniel
Angus
Rory (Roderick)
Liam
Joel
Benedict
Timothy

Pinkybutterfly · 29/12/2019 07:35

What about Teo?

MrsMummyBx · 29/12/2019 11:10

Hi All

DH and I have mulled it over and we are back to Raphael having discounted Theo however we also like Alexander as a late entrant. Any thoughts?? Problem is that Alexander is already our DS1s middle name as we thought it went really well with Hugo, he has 2 middle names. Is this an issue??

OP posts:
PlantPotting · 29/12/2019 12:33

If he has 2 middle names then not really an issue no.

I love the name Alexander. One of my very favourites! How about Peter?

Don’t like Raphael sorry

Here are some suggestions:

Ones with good nicknames:

Christopher nn Kit
Wilf(red)
Barnaby
Nathan/Nathaniel - Nate
Rafferty / Raffy
Sidney

Other ideas:

Eli
Ellis
Miles / Milo
Seth
Cole
Otis
Eric
Casper
Rudy/Rudi
Dexter
Blake
Angus
Dominic
Idris
Percy

PlantPotting · 29/12/2019 12:33

Meant to tag you OP @MrsMummyBx

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 14:27

Not Raphael sorry

Love Alexander

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 14:40

How about Laurence (Laurie) if you like Leo?

PixieN · 29/12/2019 14:50

Alexander is lovely. Also like Elliot, Marcus and Edward from TobyeBella’s lists. As a teacher I have aversions to some of the other names suggested lol Grin

northernknickers · 29/12/2019 14:56

Is anyone else checking in regularly just to hear what name OP chooses? ☺️

QueefLatifah · 29/12/2019 15:06

Can we have a picture 😍
Ralph:Ralphie?
Rudy?
Stanley?
Felix?
Sandy?

QueefLatifah · 29/12/2019 15:09

Toby?
Finn?

MrsMummyBx · 29/12/2019 18:39

@PlantPotting thanks that’s a great list, have run through them with DH!

@northernknickers haha glad it’s a gripping one...will be posting when we eventually decide which needs to be asap!! We have 2 weeks to register his birth - Yep that’s right the bubba is one month old with no name 😂😂

Sooo tricky...I WISH we hadn’t used Alexander as a middle name as that would be perfect. Feel bad pinching it from DS1s middle names though.

I’m wondering about Rafferty instead of Raphael as it sounds more English... do people like this??

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread