Rafferty

[17caterpillars1mouse]

What are your thoughts on Rafferty for a boy? It's not my usual style of name but it's growing on me and I think Raffy is a cute shortening. I've seen it's moving up the name charts so must be getting more mainstream and less 'outthere'.

Does anybody know a Rafferty?

Don't know anyone but love it. X

Unless it's a maiden name or something, it's just weird to me. Irish people don't normally use Irish surnames as first names so when Brits do it's even stranger.

I do know a Ryan @inquisitorgeneral . It just takes some film star to legitimise these names. Ryan O Neal I suppose ?

This is not always a bad thing. When my brother was at school in London his first teacher called him Seen. The Sean Connery came along. He was literally saved by James Bond.

Sorry OP but it's a no from me.

I think it's nice - although I do slightly prefer Rafe, which a PP mentioned.

Absolutely dreadful. Like a rake out of a Gorgette Heyer novel.

OK as a surname, dreadful as a first name. Riff Raff association.

Riff Raff Riffy Raffy.... sounds soo bad and not like a name I'd want.

There is a similar name - Raftery. But that doesn't really work as a first name. Or does it? I'm probably too old to give an opinion tbh.

Ha! I am actually a mom of a teen Rafferty in the U.S. We call him by his full name and/or Raff pretty equally but I'm the only one who calls him Rafe. Would I name him that all over again? I'm not sure, honestly. I fall in and out of love with my children's names regularly with the exception of one, which is Imogen. I have four kids altogher but her name I love, and never tire of it. Right now, I think I'd have named Rafferty, Rory or Rourke :). And don't get me wrong, I still like Rafferty but it's true, people often think it's short for Raphael, which I would never choose as a name. Not that I don't like it, but it's too common for me. Also, is a grown man allowed to be Rafferty? I'm not sure. I wondered this when I named him and I still wonder it today, lol. I should add, I have a Hadley and I was wanting a name for our son that started with a vowel and ended with a 'y'. I couldn't think of anything so settled on Rafferty.

Oh, and no one makes fun of him with any silly nicknames thus far. We've lived in many places in the U.S. since he was born, as well. Just thought I'd add our experience in that realm, too.

Agree with others who have said that Raphael/Rafael is nicer. It still has the options of Raffy, Rafa, Raf as nicknames. I know of one Raphael and all of these names get used,as well as his full name. It's also probably less common than Rafferty at the moment.

I like Raffy, but I'd go for Raphael as the long name rather than Rafferty.

Got 2 Raffys in my preschool (and a Ralph). It's very confusing! It's OK and would've been fine 15 years ago (I don't know any my kids age) but it is a bit 'of the moment' - the Kevin of the 2020s!

I really dislike Raf or Raffy - it's too Riff Raff...

Raphael is nice (but very Spanish sounding)

Raphael is an Archangel afaik? Like Gabriel and Michael. Hebrew presumably.

We know two. Agree with others that Rafael/Raphael are nicer. Rafferty sounds very weak to me.

I know a Rafe and his nickname is Raffy.

It's a lovely name. Rafferty I'm not so keen on.

Some of these comments! No one and I mean no one will sing Baker Street to a child called Rafferty on a regular basis. The song was a hit 45 years ago!!!! It’s also not comparable to Valentine and no one will think of the phrase Riff-Raff.

I like it.

No one and I mean no one will sing Baker Street to a child called Rafferty on a regular basis. I might
and no one will think of the phrase Riff-Raff. I would

I think it's in the same group as Cassidy, Sullivan and Finnegan. Nice surnames but naff first names

It’s also not comparable to Valentine and no one will think of the phrase Riff-Raff.

I would, especially if Rafferty gets called Raff or Raffy.

I think It's totally dire. Who would saddle their kid with that ridiculous name.

Ah I love it!!