Theo or Raphael?

[MrsMummyBx]

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

What about Monty?

Monty is lovely but a bit Labrador! I'm really not keen on Alexander. Rafferty is nice but not as nice as Raphael. If you have discounted Barnaby, could you consider Angus (Gus) or Horatio or Rupert?

I MUCH prefer Rafferty @MrsMummyBx (Raphael I don’t like) . Sounds much more English to me

I am biased obviously as my DS is Raphael.
We are catholuc though and he is named after the archangel who came before both artist and turtle.
Theo is nice, as is Jasper.
Hugo and Raphael/Jasper go well together.

Others we liked;
Reuben
Xavier
Christian
Hector
Eden
John
Oberon
Malachi

@ProperVexed I like Angus a lot but it doesn’t really go well with the Italian surname and certain English names sound a bit odd but on the other hand we do definitely want an English name ..Not sure about pulling off Horatio...

@FluffyEggsontoast hmm this is my one and only reservation about Raphael is that it is non English sounding and combined with DHs surname the bubba will sound 100% Italian and not at all English! On the other hand because DHs surname is Italian, Raphael goes really well!

@HotSince82 DH is also Catholic, can I ask, are you English? I like your name list! Have you had good reactions to Raphael?

DH and I have had a ‘name summit’ this evening and sat down and talked through the names. Alexander is out as we don’t want either DC to feel bad that we have reused a name. We both still have Raphael as preferred name, with me also liking Jasper and Monty. We are making progress! We will mull it over more tomorrow!!!

Jasper is cool OP how about Casper or Rupert?

Hi, yes we are both English, I have an Irish Catholic mother and my Dad was of Jewish descent, DH is English Catholic on both sides.
We've had nothing but positive reactions to Raphael, he tends to go by Raph/ Raphie as much as Raphael now that he is a toddler.
One or two people have mentioned the ninja turtle link, not unkindly but I just think that's their particular cultural references, not mine.

Good luck with the name summit, let us know what you decide upon

The whole point of Mumsnet though is that you give people honest reactions to names that you would never say to someone on the street (because It’d be rude and uncalled for). But if you come here and ask people to honest then that’s what you get ❤️ To me Raphael doesn’t sound English. A friend was considering this name (she didn’t pick it in the end) but I never told her my honest thoughts because she wasn’t asking for blunt opinions, she was just giving her list of options and asking us to name our fav from the list

Why are people worried that a name doesn’t sound English!!! Do people really worry about that? I find that very parochial and irrelevant in today’s global world.

Ah now I see that it is because you have an Italian surname. I have half italian kids and I chose one with an Italian first name and the other with an English first name. They both have Italian surname. Then I chose respective English and Italian middle names. What I am trying to say is that you could give him a foreign sounding first name and an English middle name.

If you both love Raphael, go with it! It is an English name anyway in that it is the form in English of the archangel Raphael’s name. That’s as opposed to, for example, Luca, which is the Italian form of a name which does have an English form.

@HotSince82 thank you, that’s super helpful. Love Raphie as a nickname for a toddler, very cute!!

@SumAndSubstance and @Fairylightsandwine thank you, it’s still the main contender! I’ve booked the appointment to register the little bubbas birth, it’s on Tuesday next week so come hell or high water we have to decide by then!!

Has BabyBx got a name yet @MrsMummyBx 🥰

Oh yes please update us!! @MrsMummyBx

I’m actually really excited to find out (need a life!!)

I prefer Raphael as Theo is so overdone now.

Hi @northernknickers and @Whatsyourflava not yet!! Tuesday is registration day and we still have no name!! HELP! Ruled Theo out I think as @stokenewsarah says we are concerned it’s too common. Current faves: Raphael, Sebastian, Jasper. Surname begins with B so we aren’t sure about Sebastian as nn will be “Seb B..” and not sure if it’s a bit odd with the B surname. Jasper - hubby is not mad on but it’s cute in my opinion.
Is it a weak sounding name! DH thinks so. Raphael the original contender...!

Ah bless you! BabyBx will be so happy to finally have a name 🥰.

I love Rafi/Raffy more than Raphael but they are more nn rather than full names. I think Jasper goes really well with Hugo

@MrsMummyBx def go with Jasper

I also think Seb B sounds great ❤️

Don’t like Raphael sorry

@MiaMoo007 I agree Raffi is such a cute nickname for a little boy. Definitely think Jasper goes well with Hugo, I think it’s the same type of name.

Opinions on whether it’s a strong name? Or a wishy washy name? DH is not convinced on this one.

@Whatsyourflava Sebastian was our original choice months ago, but we only more recently went off it because of the ‘too many Bs’ issue. Thought it was a bit of a mouthful to say Seb B. But sounds like maybe we should put that to one side! Do you think Jasper is a nicer name than Sebastian?

@northernknickers yes the poor bubba and his mum and dad will be SO relieved when he has a name. It’s become such a big decision with everyone asking us etc I feel like DH and I need a big celebration when we FINALLY decide!!

Let’s get this sorted!!!

Jasper is not wishy washy at all to my ears. It’s a strong name stood next to all the cutesy Alfie Teddy and Albie types ❤️ Really stands out

I love Sebastian/Seb just as much. And I actually really like the use of the two B’s - gives it a nice flow.

Don’t like Raphael at all but do like Rafferty

Jasper or Rufus would be great.

Raphael and Rafferty are too frilly.

Jasper is definitely not a wishy washy name at all! My younger cousin is called Jasper and I love it. His brothers are Monty, Rupert and Henry and definitely stands up to those names!