Raphael or Caleb?

[Yintan]

Our DS is due soon and both DH and I really like Raphael (nn Raphy) but I am unsure whether it is 'too much'. I associate it with Italian/Spanish heritage and we have none of that at all. I also think of it as quite a middle class name, and we live in a very working class area.

The ninja turtle connection doesn't bother me. I don't think kids are as into the ninja turtles anymore and sharing a name with a cool turtle doesn't sound too bad really.

I love the name and feel quite attached to it, but when I imagine telling people the name, I imagine potentially some raised eyebrows.

Maybe I'm being overly cautious. It's our first child and I think I'm basing my ideas off of when I was in primary school and loads of us had the same names as each other (classes full of the top 20 names basically). I know having a unique name is more popular now, and compared to a lot of his classmates, his name probably wouldn't be that out there.

If not Raphael then my next favourite name is Caleb. I like the name and it feels a bit safer I suppose. I'm not in love with it in the same way but I can definitely imagine coming around to it.

Also, if anyone has a Raphael or a Caleb and wants to share any unexpected mispronunciations/nicknames/comments that they've received then that would be great too!

I like Raphael. It was my top choice but my husband wasn't keen.

I like Raphael too. Gabriel has a similar feel.

Raphaël

Love Raphael, use it you won't regret it. I named my son Emilio, milo for short and I have no strong links to Hispanic / Italian heritage but I just loved it and it suits him so well.
Only a handful of people have turned there nose up at it but yes it does always follow the with the question ' ohh where does THAT name come from' so be prepared for a lot of that lol

Raphael

Raphael.
Caleb always looks and sounds like a name written backwards.

I much prefer Raphael and don’t find it too much at all, either too European or too middle class. Caleb is fine, but nowhere near as nice a name as Raphael to me. I think you’re overthinking a bit.

There are loads of Raphaels, it’s v popular. So no worries on that score

Raphael definitely. I know a 1 year old Raphael, his parents are both British and have no connection to Spain/Italy and it’s never been an issue at all. It would be on our list if they’d not used it already.

Caleb, without a doubt. nn Cal

I like Raphael better.

I much prefer Raphael

They are so different imo!

Raphael is gorgeous! Go with your heart.

I like Raphael

Raphael is very handsome.
Go with it.

Thank you all for your input! I'm definitely leaning more towards going with my instincts and picking Raphael.

Raphael is lovely, if you love it go for it! Raphy is a lovely nn!

I love the name Raphael or Rafael.

Both Raphael and Caleb are Hebrew (Old Testament) names. So I don't think you need to worry about not having Italian/Spanish heritage. I like both, much prefer Rafael spelling.

Prefer Rafael spelling.
I wasn’t quite brave enough to use it, so I named the cat Rafael

I love Raphael! I've only met one (adult) and he went by Raph. Gorgeous name, lovely and underused but not made up or crazy.

Caleb in contrast is very overdone - I lump it in with all the Kaydens, Kaylems, Callums.

I have an 11yr old Raphael who is called Raphy or Rapha or Raffles or RifRaf. Never had a negative comment or mispronunciation. Also only met one other in 11 years.

His friends aaaallll know the ninja turtles though. This only makes his name cooler apparently.

We have a Rafael who is almost 7. I love his name and we’ve had lots of compliments on it. He got Rafi when little and now gets mostly Raf. We decided to go with Rafael over Raphael because I was worried the Raph shortening would look like Ralph.

Raphael :)