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I love this name! I think it’s fine, tbh. It’s not any different from naming your girl Gabriella or Daniella (though admittedly most Daniellas have Latin heritage) with an English surname. I believe Raphaela is also German, so I don’t think it’s too strange.

This message was edited 11/4/2018, 5:37 AM

i don't get how people think a name can sound too "Italian"/any heritage when paired with another name, because like...plenty of people of mixed heritafes choose different kinds of names for their kids...

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but i get you worrying that it sounds out of place if you're not Italian. and in that case, i thinkbit's fine- it's a multicultural name more than anything.

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and i think it's lovely. both it and Theodora give me an old treasure sort of vibe, like antique libearies with huge mahogany bookcases and gilded page books. it pairs very well w/ the sn Arnold. do itttt

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heres some combos you didnt ask for lol

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Raphaela Ludivine
Raphaela Edith
Raphaela Evelyn
Raphaela Lucy
Raphaela Claire
Raphaela Jacinthe
Raphaela Judith
Raphaela Melisande
Raphaela Margot
Raphaela Calliope
Raphaelq Prosperine
Raphaela Beatrix
Raphaela Delphine

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some were takem from pre-Raphaelite painters/pantings oooh fancy

I love it. I think it's great with Theodora and fine with your last name. I would swoon if I met sisters Theodora and Raphaela.

1. I like Raphaela fine, but I don't like the NN Raph/Raphi. It reminds me too much of the singer.

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2. I think it kind of does. Theodora and Raphaela...yeah, I can see those two as sisters.

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3. Nah.

I posted about Raphaela a few weeks ago! I love it -- it's so baroque.

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Raphaela is not the Italian spelling, so when I see (and even hear) the name, I don't immediately think of Italian names. Raphaela Arnold sounds very stately to me.

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Theodora and Raphaela complement each other beautifully.

Raphaela doesn't even seem Italian to me. It's multicultural. If anything, it sounds Hispanic and looks German to me.

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I think it'd sound nice with most names, including Theodora and Winifred, and Raphi's adorable.

I like Raphaela, but I'd be very surprised to meet/hear of sisters named Theodora and Raphaela. I don't think they fit together and I also think that Raphaela comes off as mayube a bit too Italian, at least when paired with Theodora.

Apparently Raphaela is German with this spelling, not Italian :)

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I don't hate it, but I don't think it fits. Theodora on an English-speaking person feels vintage, but Raphaela feels foreign, like there's another heritage in the mix. And I agree with Rox that mispronunciation could be a problem - if I were unfamiliar with it I'd assume it was like Michaela, and pronounce it ra FAIL uh - and that Raphi and Theo really do sound like boys.

I’ve recently started loving the name Rafaela! I think the spelling Raphaela “fits in” more for English speaking countries.

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I haven’t found any nicknames that I like. Of those two, maybe Raph. When written I feel like people will see “Ralph” at first glance though.

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I think it fits with Theodora fine (which is also another name I LOVE), but I agree with Roxstar that it seems like a very masculine sibset and maybe a bit too much.

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I do love Winifred too!

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I don’t think it necessarily blends in with your surname, but I also don’t feel like first names need to, and I don’t think it sounds bad together. I know plenty of people that have very distinct surnames and their first names don’t match at all. For me it’s not really a big deal, but I know it is for other people.

This message was edited 11/2/2018, 9:00 PM

1. No, I don't like Raphaela. It feels pretentious, even for an Italian person, and most English speakers aren't going to pronounce it the way it probably should be.
The nn Raph and Raphy/Raphie is awful. Far too close to Ralph, and the annoying kiddie musician Raffi (Baby Beluga.)
3. Paired with Theodora, it isn't entirely out of place, but the two names and their nns taken together sound very "We really wanted boys or to name after a couple of uncles and this is what we came up with to make the best of the two girls we ended up with.
It's not terrible with Arnold, but again, it is extremely Italian and does feel mismatched.