Nicknames for Raphael

[bluemoony]

Have fallen for Raphael recently.

I used to prefer Rafael but feel like it is too associated with Spain and Italy which we have no links to and gradually have come to love the PH version more.

I would appreciate peoples opinions and feedback on spellings of nicknames for Raphael out of the following options-

Raffy

Raphy

Raphie

Rapha?

Many thanks

I don't like any of them.

It's very on trend in my Jewish circles at the moment (Rafael) and it's always shortened to Raffy (not sure of spelling).

I really like it and it was on my list of boys names for when I had my daughter. I'm glad we didn't have to use it in the end because every second baby born in my community is named Rafael/Raffy.

What I don't like it is the way it gets said (or yelled) Raff-ah-YELL.
The spanish or hebrew pronunciations are quite nice. Raff makes me think of riff-raff.

I've used both Raffy and Rafa spellings

Love Rafa/Rapha (the one I know is fab!)

Another vote for Rafa/ Rapha I adore that nn. Raphie is a little cutesy and doesn't do justice to the handsome elegance of Raphael IMO.

Apologies for this but, I have never been able to understand threads where posters choose a name then ask for a nickname. Just choose a name you like instead. I called DD a name I liked that doesn't need turning into a nickname or shortening.

How about Ralph/Rolph as a name instead?

@RampantIvy , I kind of get it.

Someone picks a name they love for a child but it's long, e.g. Valentino or Valentina, but they don't want it shortened to Val or Tino/Tina so they might pick a 'nn' e.g. Vito or Leni.

Someone wants to name their child Erin but they aren't sure it will give them enough options so they put Katherine or Katerina or Ekaterina on the BC.
(me neither, but hey ho)

Someone feels obliged something they're not keen on and would like a 'nn' to use instead.

You get other ones who insist that little Desiderata and Orlando will never ever be called by anything other than the full name.

Rolph, as suggested above, might be a bit problematic in the UK.

Why? Loads of children have non British names. I have a Russisn name.

Harris.

Harris. But Rolph will be heard as Rolf.

D'oh!

Of course (hides behind the settee)

Rafa

If you're considering using the f for Raffy then I'd use the f for Rafa instead. It's a really lovely name but I think Rapha looks like a typo!

the only Raphael I know (adult) is and has always been a Raph. He’s a top guy, so I’ve always had a soft spot for the name as a result.

Rafi all the time for me!

People think about nicknames because as the proverb says, loved is the child of many names. We choose a name we love AND we abbreviate it, often as a sign of affection.

My Raphael is known by his full name or as Raph, Raphy, RiffRaff, Raffles, Rafadoodles, RifferRafferRoosey. All developed organically. He's 11 and despairs.

My instinct would be to shorten it to Rafe

In our house, he'd be known as Rapho. Everyone gets their name shortened with an O on the end.

I know a Rafi (older Jewish adult), a Raffa (younger non-Jewish adult) and a Rafe (non-Jewish child). All males. Not sure how the last too spell their names, whether ph or f.

Personally, I like Raphael, whether pronounced Rapha-el or Rapha-yell, and I like all the nicknames I've come across for it.

Argh - my eyes! The typo! I despair of the bloody autocarrot.

The two Raphael’s I know are both Raph (both French). The nicknames you choose & prefer for a child do not always stick though, I have a longer rename that my parents shortened to a certain version but by the time I’d got through school, no one ever called me that apart from them. And then you hit the world of work where often you get full named anyway.

I love it and as long as you do that’s all that matters.
I would probably abbreviate it to Rafa, but then saying that my childrens nicknames aren’t even connected to their names x

I suspect they're thinking of Rolf Harris, paedophile? I don't think it should be a problem. Plenty of 'Jimmy's.