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?

Lord of the Flies v Forever by Judy Blume.

Would you be unreasonable? jars, (pronounced yes)

accidentally double posted

Just name Rafe. Never get giving a long name that is never used; feel bad for kids who have that.

But yes I think most people nowadays are unaware that Ralph historically in Britain has been pronounced Rafe, so I would nowadays stick with the Rafe spelling or they will spend their life being called Ralph. It’s a bit of an aristocratic quirk at this point.

Ralph Fiennes and Ralph Vaughan Williams are both Rafes, for example.

And she does do this in one episode. Onslow’s cousin ‘Ralphie’ phones him for a favour and Hyacinth’s response is that “He’s off on some appalling, unstylish errand for their Rafe!”

Also makes me think of Forever by Judy Blume.

This wasn’t on our curriculum and I’ve not seen it either. I was late twenties when I found out that “Rafe” was the same name as Ralph.

If it’s good enough for Timothy Spall’s son…

Rafe Spall. Also an (excellent) actor 😎

Raife is not a perfectly normal spelling.

Yes I forgot to add like a PP the only famous “Rafe” is also spelt Rafe - Rafe Spall.

Also grew up unfortunately watching Rolf Harris and he wasn’t pronounced “Rofe”.

This.

We know a Reef. I really like that.

Haven't you heard of Ralph Fiennes?

Not only do I have a Ralph pronounced Rafe on one side of my family, I have a St John pronounced Sinjin on the other side. He is the only St John that I have ever met and I didn't see his name written down until I was at least 10 and saw my Mum addressing a Christmas card to him. I was pretty shocked as I had no idea it was spelled that way. When I was an adult and mentioned him in passing everyone in the group went "Oooh, posh" which was also a bit of a surprise as I thought it was just an unusual, slightly pious, name, I didn't know it was posh.

Ralph Fiennes is famous and pronounced Rafe.

Yes especially at primary school. All the teachers and other parents will spell and say his name wrong. Every party invite, every teacher you meet. Nah, that's sheer misery to inflict on a child.

Yes. Just call him Rafe, it’s a lovely name!

Rafe is such a lovely name.

Use Raphael on the BC and Rafe as a diminutive.

To 'ralph' is a verb meaning 'to vomit'.

Ralph Lauren is far more familiar than LOTF (sadly) and also more famous than Ralph Vaughn Williams. Many people would likely read Ralph Fiennes' name as Ralf.

I agree with a pp that the Rafe pronunciation is seen these days as an UC quirk, maybe even an affectation.

Yes

Raife is how I’ve seen it spelled.

Yes

You can spell a name any way you like. There are no rules. If you want Rafe then go with that. My boy is Raphael and weirdly one of my friends kept calling him Rafe. I think it’s a posh person thing

Rafe is awful spelling. That might be correct because everyone is saying it but thats horrendous imo.

I know a Raif. Makes entire sense. Great name.

You can call them Ralph on the BC but you cant write Ralph and expect people to say ‘rafe’. It can be Ralph, with a written name at nursery, work, wherever of Rafe or imo should be Raif

Deffo