[Opinions] Ralph
What do you think of Ralph? Do you pronounce it like Rafe or RAHLF? I prefer the RAHLF pronunciation but I guess I'm the only one. Do you prefer Ralph or Ralf?
Do you think it'll make a comeback? Do you know anybody named Ralf or Ralph? How old are they? What kind of person do you imagine with the name?
Do you think it'll make a comeback? Do you know anybody named Ralf or Ralph? How old are they? What kind of person do you imagine with the name?
Replies
Fantastic name..always loved it and now I'm a proud wife of Ralph :-)
He is the kinddest person I know and SO inteligent...he inspired a lot of people!
I call him Ralph, Ralf, Ralfie, Raf, Mr. R :-)
My dear Hubby is an IT specialist and his customers often give him complements on his name so...deffinetly I can recomend :-)
He is the kinddest person I know and SO inteligent...he inspired a lot of people!
I call him Ralph, Ralf, Ralfie, Raf, Mr. R :-)
My dear Hubby is an IT specialist and his customers often give him complements on his name so...deffinetly I can recomend :-)
I'd never pronounce it Rafe... I'd say it as it's spelt. (Rafe is a nn for Raphael)... I wouldn't inflict Ralph or Ralf on a child- esp. since it's also slang for vomit. There was a teacher at my high school whose first name was Ralph and most people seemed to think him a bit of an idiot. However, I didn't really know him, so I couldn't really decide for myself a particular opinion of him.
That having been said, knew a guy named Rolf now in his mid or late 30s who's a pretty decent guy... Still wouldn't name a kid that though... maybe a dog or something.
Perhaps it should be left as a GP
That having been said, knew a guy named Rolf now in his mid or late 30s who's a pretty decent guy... Still wouldn't name a kid that though... maybe a dog or something.
Perhaps it should be left as a GP
This message was edited 12/9/2008, 5:50 AM
In Britain (where I am), I think you really have to be a member of the upper classes to pronounce Ralph like Rafe without seeming like...someone pretending to be a member of the uppper classes.
I don't mind the name, but I prefer either Rafe in that spelling, or Ralf. I don't know any in RL.
I don't mind the name, but I prefer either Rafe in that spelling, or Ralf. I don't know any in RL.
This message was edited 12/9/2008, 12:54 AM
I quite like Ralph, and I pronounce it RAHLF. I actually have no idea how this RAYF pronunciation came to be. Where did the L go?!
I know a few Ralphs, but I have no idea how they spell their name. My guess is Ralf. They're all around 30 to 40 years old. I doubt it'll make a comeback soon. It's been declining so fast over the last few years!
I know a few Ralphs, but I have no idea how they spell their name. My guess is Ralf. They're all around 30 to 40 years old. I doubt it'll make a comeback soon. It's been declining so fast over the last few years!
This message was edited 12/8/2008, 3:47 PM
I think it's safe to say Ralph is highly unlikely to make a comeback in the US. Ralph is now a synonym for "vomit." It would be like namign somebody Barf or Upchuck.
I've never heard any American pronounce Ralph as Rafe. If I did hear one do that, I would think they were very pretentious and phony.
I knew one Ralph. He's dead now but he was in his eighties. He had a son who was also named Ralph but was called Skip by everybody. Who could blame him?
I've never heard any American pronounce Ralph as Rafe. If I did hear one do that, I would think they were very pretentious and phony.
I knew one Ralph. He's dead now but he was in his eighties. He had a son who was also named Ralph but was called Skip by everybody. Who could blame him?
I pronounce it with a short a sound, like in apple or at. Not an Ah sound.
I had an great-uncle Raphael nn Ralph, and his son had the same name/nn. They would be 80 and 60.
I imagine Ralphie from A Christmas Story. I don't care for the name and don't think that Ralph on its own will make a comeback though Raphael nn Rafe (long A sound--RAYF) could.
I had an great-uncle Raphael nn Ralph, and his son had the same name/nn. They would be 80 and 60.
I imagine Ralphie from A Christmas Story. I don't care for the name and don't think that Ralph on its own will make a comeback though Raphael nn Rafe (long A sound--RAYF) could.
This message was edited 12/8/2008, 1:41 PM