Rafe - will DS be teased / Is the name too posh ?

[NappyAndNice]

Please help!

So we like Rafe as a name for our DS.
I know others have suggested Raife as an alternative spelling.
And had the warning of Rafe being called R*pe.

Does anyone have the name, or have a child named Rafe or know someone. Has the name been negative? I know being teased can happen with any name, but is it worse with Rafe?

Then is it really a posh name? Does that matter?
We not posh and we dont live in a posh neighbourhood, so would it be out of place?

Thanks

No it’s not too posh. Posh would be a name like St John

I asked Ds who went to a comp and the name is so unremarkable that he didn’t even look up from his phone.

I wouldn’t use Raife unless that’s a common spelling in your country - I think most people in the UK would guess that Rafe rhymed with Safe. The word Rape didn’t enter my mind.

I love it, but prefer the spelling Raife personally. I wouldn't consider it too posh - it's not like you're considering Tarquin!

We have a Rafi - he's never been teased for it and think he actually likes his name (as much as any 16 year old does!)

The correct spelling is Ralph , but pronounced Rafe . It can also be pronounced Ralf but the spelling doesn’t change. Spelling it as Rafe or Raife is most definitely NOT posh.

No x

This. I've always seen it spelled 'RALPH', where the L is silent.

Not posh

Irrespective of the poshness (no not at all to me) it’s the constant issues of pronunciation that will lead to people spelling wrong, teasing etc.

If you like Rafe pronounced like Raffi then Rafferty works.

Not posh and I personally wouldn’t spell it any other way than ‘Ralph’ which is pronounced the exact same way as ‘Rafe/Raife’

The traditional spelling is Ralph. I grew up thinking that it was pronounced phonetically, came across a couple of boys/men who were called Ralph and did pronounce it phonetically.

Years later, I found out that posh people pronounce Ralph as Rafe.

I don't think Rafe, Raif or Raife would be considered posh because of the non traditional spellings. Non trad is not generally considered posh.

The Rafferty's and Ralph's I know are posh ish

Rafe/Raife not posh
Ralph pronounced Rafe is posher

Love Rafe. It’s a nice name. Used in various circles.

The only Rafe I know is actually a Raphael - I had no idea that Ralph was supposed to be pronounced like that! (I am not posh)

Love it. Know a really, really lovely Rafe though (primary age) so that might be influencing my view.

I know a Rafael, nn Raf, or Rafi

Rafe is usually spelled Ralph

I also never knew Ralph was pronounced Raif! I've only ever met one and he was definitely "Ralf" so I guess his parents didn't know either.

I like Raif - but that's simply because I know a very sweet one. I work with children and my opinion on names is heavily influenced by them!
e.g. I really didn't like the name William when I was in my early 20s, but it had made the short list 12 years later after knowing a few!

Quite common here in Edinburgh. And absolutely fine.
The rape association is a tenuous one!

Teasing posh names? Why? What’s tease worthy about a posh name???

The only names that seem to get teased are silly names like William -> Willy or Benedict -> Bendy Dick etc

I've only ever known it spelt Ralph. I know a couple and they are indeed posh. (I'm not!)

I know more Ralphs pronounced Ralf, and that's probably what he'd be called 9 times out of 10. But spelling it Rafe is sort of like calling your DD Shivorne. I wouldn't do it personally. I'd go with Ralph pronounced Rafe.

Agree with others. Not posh, because it's a non traditional spelling of Ralf.

It's a nice name. I think it's nicer as Rafe than Ralf. I've known a few Raife/Rafe or Raff named boys and none have been posh. All Ralf's have been.

Prefer Rafe to Ralph

I don’t think it’s posh but I’m not sure about it - I prefer it as a nn but I’m not too keen on Rafferty or Raphael. Ralph pronounced Raif does feel
posh.

Thanks everyone for help and feedback, nice to hear a personal touch of people you met or known.
Its also good to know its more casual; I just didnt want him to feel out of place. I do like the spelling Rafe.

I have a Rafe and never had anyone tease him about his name or make any kind of connection with rape. When you write it it’s worth not writing the f too loopy and but that’s the only time it’s crossed my mind.

I've had plenty of comments on what a lovely name it is.

As for the spelling we went back and forth between the Ralph and Rafe spelling but the reality is that most people associate that first spelling with Ralf (probably thanks to the Simpsons) and a quick google will tell you that the Rafe variation has been around for centuries so that was enough to convince me it wasn’t a made up spelling. (I’ve come across it in a few books and films subsequently). Occasionally people say Raff but not very often