Roman or Raphael?

[SelenaM]

Which for a baby boy ?

I like Raphael for its nn options (Raffy / Raff / Rafe) but I find the full name a bit “frilly”.

Roman has a simple, masculine sound, but because I haven’t met anyone with the name I do associate it with the Romans! I prefer Ronan or Rowan for that reason, but I’d pick Roman from your options.

Another vote for Roman- lovely name.

Just be wary of the popularity of Roman, if that is something which would bother you.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#roman

Raphael

I don’t like the nicknames for Raphael, especially not Raff (Riff Raff etc)

So Roman would be my choice. But I actually much prefer Rowan or Reuben personally

Raphael.

Roman always gets confused with Ronan.

Neither, Ronan is nicer.

Roman is weird, you may as well name your child Egyptian or Irish.

Raphael

Neither. Roman makes me think of roman ruins and remains. Raphael is too frilly and Raffy is awful.

Rowan and Ronan are OK.

We have a DGS called Rafael, (not Raphael because his mum is from Brazil).
NN Raff or Rafa. I like it. And even if I didn’t I would not say so, because parents not ILs chose their children’s names.

I like Raphael and would go with Raffie as a nickname.

I don't like Roman. I think it's too hard sounding. Rowan is okay though.

Only my opinion.

Raphael

Raphael

Love Raphael - although I would probably spell it Rafael.

Roman is a nice enough name purely based on sound, but the fact that it is a word meaning "a novel" in many European languages (Belarussian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian - and I'm sure I've missed some) puts me off. "Roman" is far too widely used as a common noun to be comfortably used as person's name, IMO.

Sorry; duplicate.

In style & beauty there is a thread about Roman the fashion shop.

My first thought was archaeological digs and my second thought was the fashion chain.

OP, would you consider Ronan? It's one of the more widely used Irish names so it wouldn't be weird to choose it even if you don't have any Irish connection. When your son is learning about Romans in primary school the teasing is probably going to get old fast.

I love Raphael and it was high up on my own list of baby names, but my husband had a similar reaction to the diminutives as @Bluelavenders. I'm half Catalan, half Lebanese, which is one reason why I was drawn to the name - it's used in Catalunya and in the Lebanese Christian community, where the nickname is Rafi. To me it sounds lovely, but I can see how an English speaker might have different associations.

Agree.

I love Roman

Think there’s some harsh comments on Roman as a name here. I’ve known a couple, it’s already a real name

@TumbledTussocks , it is a name and it's popular. I don't like it.
Roman Polanski - Wikipedia

Raphael is lovely

I prefer Raphael as the diminutives are good.

i might he slightly influenced by the only Roman my DC went to school with got an underage girl PG and is now in a YOI for drug dealing…

I have a Grandson called Rafael, lovely name. South American heritage.
I don't like Roman.

Rafael where there is South-American heritage. It's the Raffa-yell UK pronunciation I dislike.