View Message

[Opinions] Ralph vs. Hugh
Which name, if either…do you like more? These are names that I do like and find handsome. They do sound very old-fashioned, though. So…Ralph or Hugh?Formerly, wheelbarrow4
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up2

Replies

I don't dislike either, but if I had to choose I would pick Hugh. I don't know, I have negative connotations with the name Ralph, and to me Ralph sounds more dated.Hugh isn't my favorite version - I prefer Hugo.But I don't see anything wrong with either. They're both old-fashioned, maybe, but not in a way that sounds completely dated. More distinguished.
vote up2
I hear Hugh and want to say "Bless you" or Gesundheit ...
and there was a fart joke I heard as a child, which I've forgotten, but the punchline was a word ending in a -yew sound, that was drawn out. The sound of Hugh reminds me of that. It's generally reminiscent of pneumatic sounds. It doesn't help my image of Hugh, that I have not known a Hugh personally. I think of Grant and Jackman, and when I hear Jackman's name I don't really think of him being a "Hugh" because I hear "Huge."

Ralph was a name we made fun of as children, not because it was associated with vomit but because it just sounds so ugly.
But then there is also the (imo amusing, I guess I have a childish sense of humor) image of "calling Ralph on the big white telephone." I actually think Ralph is a better name than Hugh. It seems like the name of a regular person. It could seem suitable on a handsome guy. Hugh seems anemic and stuffed-shirty to me and I have a harder time imagining it on someone handsome and fun. JMHO

This message was edited 6/24/2022, 10:41 AM

vote up3
Yeah, I was thinking Hugh sounds huffy more than Ralph sounds like retching. To me. If we're talking about onomatopeias.
vote up2
I think I like Ralph a bit better.I like them both in theory but neither sound is very good to me. Hugh's sound is bad, while Ralph's sound is actually fine.
vote up2
Hugh. I don't even mind the vomit association with Ralph so much, I just think it sounds dowdy.
vote up2
I prefer Hugh; in South Africa though it's not a good choice because many people can't hear the difference between 'Hugh' and 'you', which is inconvenient. I've got a Hugh friend who mostly goes by his nn, just to save trouble. I would use Hugo instead. Ralph doesn't appeal, it seems dated rather than vintage, and pronouncing it Rafe is too precious.
vote up2
Ralph. If it was Hugo, I’d think again.
vote up2
Just read the replies...Had no idea Ralph meant “vomit”. Still prefer it to Hugh.
vote up2
If 'counsel' plus 'wolf' means 'vomit', it's news to me.
vote up1
It's an onomatopoeia. RAAALF. We had a neighbor named Ralph and my dad used to joke that whenever we had a vomiting sickness, we were calling him.
vote up2
It’s a common colloquialism, like “hurl” or “barf”. I think it hit its peak in the 80s, but people still use it. They mention it in the Breakfast Club.
vote up2
Er ... what is the Breakfast Club? First I've heard of it.
vote up1
The Breakfast Club is an 80s movie. One of the girls in dentention steals a boys wallet, and she says, “Your middle name is Ralph, as in puke.” I actually just watched the movie the other day but I just didn’t care. I liked the sound of it in itself.
vote up2
Definitely Hugh, I don’t like either, but Ralph is definitely more dated.
vote up2
Hugh. Ralph means “vomit” and it makes me think of Wreck It Ralph (I love that movie by the way).
vote up2
Hugh:)
vote up2
I don’t particularly like either one but I’d choose Hugh.
vote up2
Ralph.
It's a bit comical (still, better than Randy and maybe Rudolf), but I can't get over how washed out Hugh seems even taking into account the nice meaning.

This message was edited 6/22/2022, 10:13 AM

vote up3
I think Ralph has more spunk.
vote up3
Lol, the vomit association is definitely putting me off from Ralph, now…no thanks. I don’t think that slang-term is really used where I am. I’ve never heard of it until now.

This message was edited 6/22/2022, 9:25 AM

vote up1
My father’s name is Ralph, so I should have a soft spot for it. I don’t. The fact that it’s a synonym for “vomit” is too much to get past. Hugh is okay.
vote up2
Hugh
vote up3
Definitely Hugh. I wouldn't say I like it, because I don't, but at least it doesn't sound so much like vomiting that it's become a slang term for vomiting.
vote up2
HughHugh, I find it more appealing (sound-wise). Ralph is too rough in comparison with breeze-like Hugh, imo.
vote up2