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Original poster

Dante or Rafael with Italian surname?

35 replies

Pinkywoo · 30/12/2021 13:22

DS2 is due in two months and we can't decide on a name! DH is Italian (Sicily) and I'm English, at the moment he prefers Rafael and I like Dante. He says no-one under the age of 90 is called Dante and he'll be the only one, but that's precisely why I like it, DH has the most common name in southern Italy, literally half of males in Sicily seem to be called it (any Italians will be able to guess it!).
Also DS1 is called Michael and which is quite similar to Rafael, help!

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LesLavandes · 30/12/2021 13:24

What is the surname?

Original poster
Pinkywoo · 30/12/2021 13:26

Long Italian surname ending in gio.

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 30/12/2021 13:27

Rafael

RedRobin100 · 30/12/2021 13:28

Rafael

Don’t think it’s at all too similar to Michael. Only the ae really

Original poster
Pinkywoo · 30/12/2021 13:28

Should add we live in England so that's why we like these two as they're easy to pronounce for both languages.

OP posts:
Melassa · 30/12/2021 13:28

I agree with your DH re Dante, the only one I know is mid 90s.

Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (or Michele, Raffaele e Gabriele) are the archangels and all have the same onomastico, which might or might not be handy Grin.

If you are going for Raphael English style then I would keep the ph spelling, I personally find Rafael a bit too in between (or Spanish?). Seeing as your first DS is Michael I would go full English, but that’s just me.

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 30/12/2021 13:30

I love Dante! I'd go with that.

Original poster
Pinkywoo · 30/12/2021 13:32

That's interesting about the onomastico, they'd just have to share! DH can't get his head around using ph for an f sound, his spoken English is good but he struggles with written.

OP posts:
LesLavandes · 30/12/2021 13:42

Why don't you go for Rafael? A compromise

Awrite · 30/12/2021 13:45

I love Rafael, love it.

Dante make think of Dante's inferno. I do like the sound of it though

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 30/12/2021 14:11

I know two babies in England called Dante, oddly enough (both have Italian parents). So he wouldn't be the only one!

Geamhradh · 30/12/2021 14:35

About 150 Dantes born in Italy last year, it's been on a steady rise since 2000 when there were only 29 born. Almost all in the north west, and Sicily next to the bottom for Dante popularity.
I'd wager every single one is named after a grandfather.

Rafael (Raffaele) travels much better and is much nearer in tone and popularity to Michael.

Zandathepanda · 30/12/2021 15:09

He will be Dan or Raf/Rafe very quickly at school.
I like Dante best

Skeumorph · 30/12/2021 16:13

Italian surname from his side of family, so YOUR choice of first name.

Dante and Michael is lovely

ChristmasRobins · 30/12/2021 16:30

I prefer Dante. Rafael would make me think you were going for an archangel theme.

Original poster
Pinkywoo · 30/12/2021 17:08

@Skeumorph also DH named DS1 after his dad (I loved the name though so was fine with that), so it's my turn, this is more to help make my mind up.

@ChristmasRobins that did cross my mind, but my sister thinks Rafael would then be a ninja turtles theme! and that we should give Michael the middle name Angelo

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 30/12/2021 17:09

Rafael

Cas112 · 30/12/2021 20:53

Dante

Noni123 · 30/12/2021 20:57

Definitely Dante a lovely name

DanteRest · 30/12/2021 21:20

Name changed for obvious reasons....
Dante is my preference, we would have called our DS Dante but it's too close to our surname, so instead named something else Dante.... our restaurant!

Ellmau · 31/12/2021 00:24

Dante is great.

Is Rafael the Sicilian form? I would have expected Raffaele in Italy.

campion · 31/12/2021 00:28

Rafael. It's not too close to Michael in English pronunciation.
If your DH doesn't like Dante then that's a bit of a non starter.

SittingOvation · 31/12/2021 00:38

I love Dante. It was on our shortlist.

Original poster
Pinkywoo · 31/12/2021 11:02

@Ellmau

Dante is great.

Is Rafael the Sicilian form? I would have expected Raffaele in Italy.

No, but we both agreed that Raffaelle looked a little bit too Italian next to Michael, and would also have pronunciation issues in English.
OP posts:
deadlanguage · 31/12/2021 11:10

I much prefer Rafael

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