Ralph...Rafe....Raphael...

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Registered: 03-25-2003
Ralph...Rafe....Raphael...
6
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 2:15pm

So, I JUST found out this morning that I am pg - and look here I am, even b4 I have let it sink in or have told my dh or anything! lol


It is interesting though b/c we were talking the other day (dh and I) and we decided that if we had another child we would incorporate his dad's name into the new baby's name.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 3:33pm
I LOVE Micah Rafe- what a nice boys name and it goes so well with the names of your other boys. For a girl, I like Dinah, Adalia, Hannah, Lilah, Rebekah, and Sarah. As for incorporating Ralph Wayne into a girl's name, how about by using a name with the same meaning?

                             
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Registered: 06-26-1999
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 3:37pm
Congrats on #4! I love your ds' names; all very handsome. That's awful about you dh's father. What a freak & upsetting accident that must be. It would be nice to incoperate Ralph (or Wayne?) into the name for this new baby. I actually think just Ralph is cute, but Rafe & Raphael are both great. I think that Raphael nn Rafe or Ralphie would also work if you can't decide. Raphael probably fits in best w/Matthew, Solomon, & Luke. It'd actually be nice, since Matthew & Luke are fairly common names, & Solomon & Raphael are fairly uncommon names. Balance it out a bit! Raphaela is a very pretty choice for a girl, don't you think? You could always nn her Ella or Elle or Ellie too. Hope this helps!
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 3:47pm

You know I have been running Rapheala through my head all day and I am liking it more and more and I LOVE your nn suggestions! Thank you!


Penny

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Registered: 10-27-2005
Fri, 12-16-2005 - 9:54pm

Rafe is a phonetic spelling of the way Ralph was pronounced in the Middle Ages, in fact until fairly recently in some parts of Britain... I do like it rather better myself. The original Old English name was Rædwulf, which became Radulf, Rathulf, Radolphus, Rodolfo, etc. Raoul or Raul is the French form of the name, now used generally in the romance languages, so that would be an option, though I'm not sure it *fits* with your other boys. It's diminutive form, Rawlin or Raulin, might work as a middle name. They all mean *wolf council*, and there are a number of other names that incorporate one of those elements, though I can't think of any that have both.

Raphael is, etymologically, a completely different name (Hebrew *God has healed*), though I agree that the similarity in sound makes it a reasonable way to honour a Ralph. In fact, the reference to healing in it's definition seems appropriate to your father-in-law's unfortunate situation. Another sound-alike option would be Rafferty, a Gaelic last name meaning *prosperity" which fits in with the current trend toward Irish names, but again, not so cohesive with your other boys' Hebrew names.

Wayne is harder, it's an Old English surname meaning *wagon-builder* or *wagon-driver*. Other than the surnames Wagner, Waggoner and Wainwright, which have the same meaning but don't lend themselves as well to given-name use, there really aren't any variations. However, Carter, meaning *cart-builder*, is essentially an equivalent. It's rather trendy right now and not-at-all Hebrew/Biblical, but it could work as a middle name.

I think I like your original idea of Raphael best for a boy, and Raphaella and the similar Rafya (raf-yah or raf-ee-yah, *the healing of Jehovah*) are the only options I can come up with for a girl (Raphaella is quite pretty, uncommon but not too far from the popular Isabella, Annabelle, etc.), although in a pinch Rawlin or Carter could work as a middle name for either. I also really like Rafe for a boy, but with your other sons' names I'd probably still put Raphael on the birth certificate and consider Rafe for a nickname (it is used that way, as is Rafi).

My only other suggestion, if none of these feels like *the one*, would be to use the initials R.W. That would give you the Rachel you like for a girl, but for a boy would still probably lead to Raphael, the only other common Hebrew name with an R is Reuben (though if you're feeling adventurous, Ranan, Rahim, Ranon, Raziel, Rishon, Ronel or Roni for a boy, Rahab, Ranita, Raya, Raina, Rania, Raziah, Razili, Renana, Revaya, Rishona or Raniya for a girl, in addition to the obvious Ruth and Rebecca/Rebekah). However, there really aren't any Hebrew names beginning with a W, so you'd still have to branch out a little there... Rachel Willa would be lovely.

Hope that helps,

Josie

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Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 12:31am
Thank you Josie - that was SO helpful! I will definitely be bookmarking this post!

Avatar for bradleyteach
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Registered: 06-29-2001
Sun, 12-18-2005 - 10:36am

Rafe is a great name, and I like Micah a lot too.

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