I’d love your opinion on the name [name]Raphael[/name]. Powerful? Pretentious? Too out there, or just right? Can a boy in the US pull this off, or is it asking too much? Any and all thoughts/impressions welcomed.
[name]Raphael[/name] is a bold choice for a son. If many Hispanic men in the US are called [name]Rafael[/name], why couldn’t a boy named [name]Raphael[/name] pull it off? I love the Biblical association as [name]Raphael[/name] was one of the seven archangels, the artistic connection with the Renaissance artist and the meaning “God has healed”. [name]Even[/name] if it was the name of one of the Ninja Turtles years back, I wouldn’t let that discourage you from choosing it. It’s a romantic yet strong name. Go for it! All the best!
I absolutely [name]LOVE[/name] it! If you’re a little hesitant you could pair it with a “safer” mn or a mn that you would be happy with calling your son if you’re uncomfortable calling him [name]Raphael[/name] after you’ve named him such. Some suggestions:
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Aiden[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Blake[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Chase[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Cole[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Ethan[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Grant[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Gray[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Jackson[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]James[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Julian[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Leon[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Ryan[/name] (I love the alliteration here!)
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Sebastian[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Tobias[/name] (not really a common mn, but I thought it flows nice)
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]William[/name] (although [name]William[/name] [name]Raphael[/name] is my preference)
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Wolf[/name]
[name]Raphael[/name] [name]Zion[/name] (maybe too religious and edgy for you , but I [name]LOVE[/name] it)
Like any?
I think it’s a super cool name and definitely a viable option. I’d love to meet a little [name]Raphael[/name].
I really love this name and think a boy could pull it off. The nickname Raph/[name]Raff[/name] is friendly and accessible, I think. Everyone will have heard the name, I think, and most will have some sense how to spell it, and it fits into the [name]Michael[/name], [name]Gabriel[/name], [name]Daniel[/name], [name]Nathaniel[/name] category of names as a less familiar but relatable member.
Best wishes!
I echo what everyone else has said. I think it’s a great name for a boy.
[name]How[/name] do you pronounce it though - Raf-eye-el or raf-ale?
I can see some people will have pronounciation problems perhaps.
I love it! It’s strong and masculine, but not hyper-masculine. It’s foreign, but familiar. It’s got a great balance of what to look for in names. I’ll admit that it’s a grand sounding name and could get to be a lot for everyday use, but nn Raf or even [name]Ray[/name] could work to make it a bit more down-to-earth.
If I ever have a boy, I am totally considering [name]Rafael[/name] (DH has Mexican heritage). I [name]LOVE[/name] the name, it’s both masculine and beautiful. It’s in my top three.
Thank you all SO MUCH for the positive feedback! I really love the name, but I’d never want to saddle my child with a name just because I like it; after all, it’s going to be their name, not mine.
To address thoughts brought up:
@mischa The Ninja [name]Turtle[/name] connection doesn’t bother me too much. (If anything, I’d think a little boy would dig that namesake!)
@l_mc I really like [name]Raphael[/name] [name]Gray[/name]! Boyfriend doesn’t like [name]Gray[/name] (he thinks it sounds depressing). Any more ideas for middle names (especially one-syllable)?
@cka I’d pronounce it Raf-eye-el
@[name]Daisy[/name] My boyfriend (so far) likes the nickname [name]Ray[/name] and I love that it allows for a more casual, less over-the-top name to go by.
Any other thoughts (including negative) or ideas for middle names? Thanks again!
This is my grandfather’s name, he goes by [name]Ralph[/name]. I like the nn [name]Rafe[/name] a LOT. I think the nn [name]Ralph[/name] would get teased.
My grandfather has two mns - one on his birth cert, one that his mom always called him. [name]Donald[/name] and [name]Andrew[/name]. Our last name is [name]Simon[/name]. So I like any of those names paired with [name]Raphael[/name]. Probably in this order: [name]Simon[/name], [name]Andrew[/name], [name]Donald[/name] (I probably don’t like [name]Donald[/name] that much actually). Instead of [name]Gray[/name] (my fav name ever, but my husband must know your husband - mine also says it’s a dreary name), what about [name]Gage[/name], [name]Graham[/name], [name]Graeme[/name], etc.
P.S. My grandfather pronounces it [name]Raff[/name]-eye-el.
I really like it, especially with [name]Rafe[/name] (as opposed to Raf) as nn for day to day use.
Can equally see an artist/writer/musician with this name as much as sportsman, scientist or entreprenuer.
Makes me think of someone self confident enough to chart their own course in life, yet compassionate enough to have a human touch. A free thinker or a leader. 
“Can equally see an artist/writer/musician with this name as much as sportsman, scientist or entrepreneur.
Makes me think of someone self confident enough to chart their own course in life, yet compassionate enough to have a human touch. A free thinker or a leader.”
[name]Love[/name] that description! I like the idea of pairing it with a more “classic” middle name, like [name]David[/name], [name]Thomas[/name], or [name]Andrew[/name].
One of the downsides, to me, is that the “-el” ending might sound girly to some ears. I may be over analyzing.