Ralph pronounced Rafe, are we setting ourselves up for a lifetime of correcting pronunciation?

[WelshTash]

We love the name Rafe but have recently found out the correct spelling of this is Ralph. My concern is, if we name our son Ralph he will forever be mispronounced as “Ralf”. We wanted to avoid a name that required constant correcting.

I wondered if a formal name of Rafael / Raphael, but a “known as” Rafe, is a better approach than Ralph? I want Rafe to be more than a nickname though.

I wondered if anyone with a Rafe or, a Ralph pronounced “Rafe”, could offer us their experience?

Of course you are.

I know one spelt Rafe. His parents didn’t want Ralph either.

Yes.

Yes I think you would be. What is incorrect about Rafe? Rafael is a lovely name.

Can’t you just use Rafe? I never understand the whole proper name/ nickname thing. Call him what you want him to be called. But yes if you name him Ralph you’ll be forever correcting people

Yes

I've known Rafe and Raife. If I saw Ralph, I would assume it rhymed with Alf.

Just spell it Rafe, like the actor Rafe Spall does. Unfortunately not everyone knows the correct pronunciation.

If you name your child Ralph, people will call them Ralph. Hope that helps.

You would be setting them up to be known as Ralph.
If you want Rafe - you'll have to do Rafe.

I was at school with a Rafe - it is definitely a correct spelling

Why would you call them Ralph if you want them to be known as Rafe?

If you wanted a girl to be known as Emily you wouldn’t call her Emma would you?

The only Ralph I know is pronounced Ralph. I know
two boys with the name pronounced ‘Rafe’ and they are spelt Rafe and Raif.

I think there is more than one ‘correct’ or acceptable spelling of the name. If you spell it Ralph there will inevitably be confusion. If you spell it Rafe, Raif or Raife, there won’t be 🤷‍♀️

I also know a Raphael but he goes by Raff.

Yes, it’d be pronounced to rhyme with Alf.

Just spell it Rafe.

Raph (short for Raphael) would be prounced Raff by most, too. I have a colleague named Raphael & some people say Raph (Raff).

Yes.

I originally wanted to call ds Rafe but went with Raphael in the end. He's become Raph (or Raffles or Rafadoodles or RifferRaffer) as time has gone on.

From experience I can tell you that many people will pronounce Rafe to rhyme with cafe rather than safe but I still prefer it spelt that way.

My grandad's name was Ralph, but pronounced as Rafe. I did not know him as he died when I was very young. Older family members always referred to him as Rafe.

Why not just christen him Rafe?, you know that within reason you can pretty much call your child whatever you fancy?

My dog’s name is Ralph (Fiennes on his pedigree).
Only known as Rafe on a Sunday.

Yep.

I would pronounce "Ralph" as "Rafe", but I also greet new people with "how d'you do" so possibly a minority 😆

Yes. It wouldn’t even occur to me to pronounce Ralph as Rafe. Don’t do it op. Or just spell it Rafe.

I guess I'm in a minority but I always thought Ralph was pronounced Rafe? I'm sure Ralph Fiennes is 'Rafe' not 'Ralph'. I would think someone who said it with an audible 'l' just wasn't familiar with the name. Same as you wouldn't call someone 'Gray Ham' if their name was Graham.

I’ve never known anyone pronounce Ralph as Rafe. The Rafes I know are called Rafferty and they shorten it to Rafe.