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I love both and so does my husband, Gabriel though is too popular even though I slightly prefer it. I wish that I liked some of the Raphael nn's but I don't. They are also just a bit too religious for me but if I had to actually use one I would probably choose Raphael. I love when other people use them but I doubt that I ever would.

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Gabriel, I think that it's more usable and doesn't sound odd like Raphael does to me.

Definitely Gabriel.

Gabriel. Raphael is a great name but but it's one of those names where, at least in English, the pronunciation is so ambiguous that I always just glaze over it as a possibility. I also prefer Gabriel because of the ease into the nickname Gabe; Raphael doesn't really have such an option. So basically, in addition to Gabriel being one of my favorite names for a boy, I just think it's better for practicality reasons.

Gabriel, no doubt about it. It's been on my list for ages. I don't like Raphael very much, mostly because of the way it sounds and because I don't like any of the nicknames for it.

Ooh, that's a hard one.

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If I had to; Gabriel.

Gabriel, because it's historically more common here and sounds friendlier to me.
Raphael is handsome, but maybe too handsome. I imagine a dark and dashing heartbreaker type.

Raphael.

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Gabriel sounds extremely whiney to me. And I know they are both biblical names, but Gabriel seems a lot more religious to me so I'm not a fan.

Raphael. It's more distinctive in my mind, since there is no commonly used sounds-similar female version. Also, I don't like Gabe but I do like Rafi.

I like both, but I'd choose Gabriel. I just think it sounds nicer and has cuter nicknames. It also reminds me of Heath Ledger's character in the film "The Patriot". He was, erm, very good-looking.

I used to like Gabriel more, but now I prefer Raphael. I only have a vague sense of why; it's probably related to popularity...the 'bri' part sounds a little dated.

This message was edited 6/28/2018, 10:03 PM

Gabriel

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Apart from having Gabriel on my list, and him having a fun, always joking and laughing, generally happy feel, I can more imagine actually having a Gabriel. Raphael I struggle to imagine on my own child for some reason. There’s something about it that feels a little cheesy? Like romantic but in an over the top way. I’m not entirely sure what it is, but I’m not a fan.

I’d go with Raphael. It’s less common, more distinctive, and the meaning seems more poignant to me. Rafe would be a cute nickname for it.

Definitely Gabriel. I just enjoy the way it looks and sounds much more. Besides, I intensely dislike the nn Rafe.

I think both are great names, I actually really like both, but I'd go with Gabriel. It's so handsome, I love the meaning and I love the nn Gabe too.

I like both but if I had to use one I'd go with Raphael because I don't like Gabe.

Gabriel.

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I adore Gabriel. Definitely a contender for a boy if we have one.

Raphael because I prefer how it sounds and the nicknames. It also gives off a slightly more masculine vibe and I hear it used less often which also appeals to me.

Love them both. I think I’d use Gabriel before Raphael, because I prefer the sound.

Hi Perrine !!!

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I choose Raphael!
He is the angel of healing and he helped a blind person in the Bible. I have a link with all these things.

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After that I love many variants of it: Raffaele, Raffaello, Rafael and Raphaël.

Gabriel.

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I love Gabriel, but Raphael is also nice. I don't know why.