Is it [name_u]Rafe[/name_u], like in raft, or [name_u]Rafe[/name_u], with a long “a” sound?
And which way would you read it, if you didn’t already know how to say it?
I don’t know how to say it but I read it raw-fay or raw-fee. I’d probably read it as raw-fay more even though I like the sound of raw-fee over raw-fay
I pronounce it, Rayf. With a short “A” sound.
(Tangent: I say ‘raft’, with a long ‘a’ sound, so was initially confused when I read your question! Another tangent, often four-letter words with an ‘e’ at the end, make you say the name of the first vowel in that word, eg: Pin/[name_m]Pine[/name_m], [name_u]Con[/name_u]/Cone, [name_m]Pan[/name_m]/Pane. Its not always true, but as a bit of a linguistic geek, I find it interesting!)
Rayf like the previous poster is how I say it. Rhymes with “safe”
When I see it my pronunciation changed from Rayf that rhymes with safe and Raph like the the first first syllable of [name_m]Raphael[/name_m]- almost sounds like wrath with my accent :s
I’ve always thought it was [name_m]Raff[/name_m]-ee
A quick google has revealed that it is in fact pronounced Rayf rhymes with safe. I must have heard Rafe pronounced Raff-ee as a nn (maybe for Raphael?) because as a full name it is pronounced Rayf
I say Rayf. 
As a name on it’s own I’d say it Rayf, as in safe. But the only one I’ve known went by ‘[name_m]Raffee[/name_m]’ as it was a nn for [name_m]Raphael[/name_m]
I say it ‘ray-f’ for [name_u]Rafe[/name_u]. I’d spell ‘raff-ee’ as [name_m]Raffy[/name_m] or Raphy.
I use both pronunciations.
I know one and he goes by the “rhymes with safe” pronunciation ”
[name_f]My[/name_f] brother and sol named their tiny “[name_m]Rafael[/name_m],” but are calling him “[name_u]Rafe[/name_u]” - rhyming with with “Waif,” if that makes sense. It’s the long “a” sound, and the “e” is silent.
There was a character on Flashpoint named [name_u]Rafe[/name_u], if that helps. 
Yep, this is exactly how I say it too!
I also pronounce it rayf. Such a handsome name.
I say ray-f. One of my moms favorite soap operas has a [name_u]Rafe[/name_u] as a character.
I would pronounce it like “rayf”, rhymes with safe. There is a soap opera that my mother in law watches and thats his name and I love it. Although I ran it by my husband and he thought it was ridiculous. But I think its a great name.
I’d pronounce it to rhyme with safe. I’d also sometimes pronounce [name_m]Ralph[/name_m] that way although I know that’s not the only pronunciation (but that’s not the point of this question!)
Thanks everyone! I had no idea that this is a southern [name_u]Brit[/name_u] (Old English) way of pronouncing “[name_m]Ralph[/name_m]” - like, [name_m]Ralph[/name_m] Fiennes name is pronounced Rayf.
I like the Rayf way of saying it - and I had an Uncle [name_m]Ralph[/name_m], so there’s a bit of a family connection there.
We actually went to [name_m]Israel[/name_m] last year and our tour guides name was [name_m]Rafi[/name_m] - [name_m]Ra[/name_m]-fee - so I wondered if that’s how some people would see it too.
Thanks for your input! I’m not super concerned with how people will read it, as my first name has been mispronounced my whole life - I’m used to correcting people. If we go with this name, maybe he’ll just have to get used to it too!
I have a second {or third?} cousin who just named their baby this - they pronounce it rayf. It’s a wonderful name, but I like [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] just a bit more : )
"Rayf - " as in “Safe.” Go re-watch (or watch, as the case may be) [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Harbor[/name_u] with [name_m]Ben[/name_m] Affleck and [name_m]Josh[/name_m] Hartnett; the character’s name is spelled R-A-F-E too.