Raphael

[jimjamjoo]

We are as English as English can be. Is Raphael an odd choice? What about middle names? Surname is double barrelled with 2 syllables so think it needs to be a short one. Thank you

I love it! Think it's fine that you are English. You could shorten to Raph. I knew a gorgeous (adult) Raph, whose full name was Raphael. He went to boarding school in england, but was actually Israeli. I mean he is still alive. Not sure why I am talking about him in last tense... Aaaaanyway, he is the only one I have ever met and it is a lovely name imo.

I love it. It's feels very British, but also sounds exotic and mysterious. I'd love to call our baby Rafferty (Rafa) but husband has put his foot down and said no

I know a little Rafferty @kittenpeak! I also love it and it was also vetoed by DH .

I I immediately thought of the Mutant Ninja Turtles. Sorry OP.

It's lovely, as is Rafferty, I know a very cute Raff.

I like Raphael. But I would avoid Raph - sounds like Riff Raff!

Middle names:

Raphael Toby
Raphael Ciaran
Raphael Sebastian
Raphael Casper
Raphael Oscar
Raphael Laurence
Raphael Mark
Raphael Marcus
Raphael Barnaby

For some reason I like it with the long middle names too, but some people might find it a bit of a mouthful. My full maiden name when was eleven syllables though and it never bothered me too much!

Obviously, this is very tainted by the one Raph / Raphael I know, but he was the furthest person I think I've ever met from riff raff! Not that it matters obviously, but it made me smile a bit to think of him as riff raff!

Not keen. Sorry.

I really like Raphael , in my mind it goes with angels and saints eg Gabriel, Dominic, Benedict etc, I'm not religious but rather like the sentiment and the international air of them. My experience of nick names is that they get chosen by children and their friends and Raph is likely but rather nice. Really not keen on Rafferty which is a different type of name.

Rafferty is possibly a bit less elegant and more of the cheeky chappy / borderline hipster genre of names. I still love it though.

There's quite a lot of these type of names
Rafferty
Raffy
Raphael
Ralph
Rafe
Makes it feel much more popular than it actually is if that makes sense
Depends if popularity an issue for you @jimjamjoo