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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Raphael/Rafael - would you dare?

27 replies

Psammead · 12/05/2010 12:49

Apparently it's not uncommon in Germany where I live, but we have strong ties to England (my whole family live there).

It is cool. Would you dare to use it though?

Disclaimer: Not pregnant, not trying right now, just musing on future possibilities.

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tummytickler · 12/05/2010 12:51

Yes i would dare! Raphael was very high on our list for ds (we went with Amos instead). I love it, and Raph is a cute nn!

elliemental · 12/05/2010 12:51

my friend's 12 year old is called that. he is very cool and popular.

mazzystartled · 12/05/2010 12:53

It's great

I know a v cool 8 year old Raphael (Raffy)

And it is a teenage mutant ninja turtle, so thumbs up from the peer group too

sallyJayGorce · 12/05/2010 12:54

The Raphaels (3 of them) I know in England are all Jewish. It's a good name.

Original poster
Psammead · 12/05/2010 12:56

Hmmm, am neither Jewish or a turtle (or a ninja, sadly). Would that pose a problem?

OP posts:
Magaly · 12/05/2010 16:23

I don't see why it's daring. It's quite normal compared to some of the names that are used now. I really like it.

LuluF · 12/05/2010 16:32

It's the name of my chiropractor!! I'd use it - if DH liked it (but he probably wouldn't because he's SO unimaginative with names) and it wouldn't go with out surname, other than that, it's up there on the list-of-names-I'd-chose-if-I-had-complete-freedom.

MrsvWoolf · 12/05/2010 17:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

heading4home · 12/05/2010 17:59

It is top of my list at the moment but dh is spanish and it's the name of one of his uncles. I love it, don't tell everyone about it in case they all want it

thisisyesterday · 12/05/2010 18:05

i love it, was tempted to use it for ds3 but we already have a Gabriel

Louplet · 12/05/2010 19:48

I love it. Is top of my list for DC2 if a boy. And DS1 is a Gabriel!

JackiePaper · 12/05/2010 19:53

my friend's ds is Raphael, everyone calls him Raffi, i think it's a lovely name

loobylu3 · 12/05/2010 21:14

It's my top choice for another son too!

Ishoglomo · 12/05/2010 21:36

I don't really like it. It's a bit OTT.

TRL · 12/05/2010 22:11

We dared to use it - Rafael - and we're not Jewish, Spanish, anythingish, we just thought it beautiful. He's now 5 and always introduces himself as Rafael, is called his full name at school and is generally very proud of his name.
(We also have a Gabriel.)

thisisyesterday · 12/05/2010 22:15

Louplet and TLR... are you planning on having some more so you can have Michael, Uriel, Raguel, Zerachiel and Remiel too? lol

Louplet · 12/05/2010 22:20

Absolutely ; )

funnysinthegarden · 12/05/2010 22:20

Fab name, mind you I am biased as my 3 month old son is called Raphael, Rafe for short. We also have a Fabian and although we do get some blank looks when we tell folk what our children are called, I don't care as DH and I both love their names. Also love Gabriel but a bit too much like Fabian for us to use it.

hester · 12/05/2010 22:36

I know two little Raphael's. One is Jewish.
Think it's a great name.

sharkEgg · 12/05/2010 23:59

my DH has Raphael as his middlenameandis quite embarassed, even though he is very outgoing. He wouldn't even tell our DD's (11 & 9) his middle name until this year....

I thin it is quite sweet though.

carrotsarenottheonlyvegetable · 13/05/2010 13:21

I love it. TRL great you have a Gabriel too. You just need an Ariel and a Michael now . Out of the four, Raphael is my favourite but I also love Gabriel.

But we live in Yorkshire and couldn't carry it off. The only Raphael I ever met was an absolutely stereotypical ultra-sexy dark, curly haired Italian God of a bloke.

weegiemum · 13/05/2010 13:24

I wouldn't dare. I think its way OTT

But then I don't like Gabriel either.

Angel names - ewwwww.

amandine07 · 13/05/2010 22:09

oooh i love the name Raphael! go for it if you like it, don't worry too much about what others will think, I think it's a gorgeous, solid, slightly exotic name. it's not like some crazy made-up names out there!

TRL · 14/05/2010 10:18

Actually my DH is Michael (and our other son's Theo, meaning God) ... I guess it looks like a theme although it wasn't intentional .... In Rafael's year at school out of 30 boys there are a Raphael, a Rafferty, Rafe and him so far from being way out/unusual, it's common mainstream . There are two other Gabriel's in his school too so Little Face won't be the only one when he goes either.

carrotsarenottheonlyvegetable · 15/05/2010 08:16

weegiemum depends on what you feel about angels

TRL I know what you mean about not meaning to have a theme. My son is Peter Thomas (surname) and it was actually when he was about 3 that someone pointed out that they were very Christian names - and I'm not at all Christian - and I'd never actually thought about it it at all, ever!