Is Rafe a real name?

[tortoiseonthehalfshell]

When we were expecting our first, my husband put forth Rafe for a boy. Old english, he tells me, he's read it in Simon Schama.

I said I would only consider if it was actually a real name and not a nn or something he'd made up . We couldn't find any reference to it and we had a girl anyway so issue moot.

Anyway, am reading Wolf Hall now, set Tudor era, and have just come across a character called Rafe, not short for anything.

So, does that mean he's right, it's an actual old English name? Because if so, I am honour bound to consider it for Hypothetical Future Son.

And, do you like it?

I really dislike it. If I see Ralph, I would say Ralf.

Rafe sounds like someone desperately trying to posh up their name (like Hyacinth Bouquet/Bucket).

I know a toddler who is Rafe - but his mum pronounces it Ra-fee.

My son goes to nursery with a rafe.

One of the more annoying (and they are all fairly annoying) apprentice candidates was called Rafe.

Yea, def a real name. I rather love it.
I like it as in short for Raphael but my DH doesn't :(
although I'm now thinking that's actually Raif which might not be the same as Rafe?