Being brave...

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm going to ask for honest opinions here, even though I'm not sure I'm going to like what I hear, but what do you think of the name Raphael for a girl?

My reason for asking is that it has for a long time been my favourite boys name, although I was always a little dubious about using it for a number of reasons... Then, I mention it to the significant other, and he says that it's too feminine for a boys name, but that he quite likes it for a girl.

I'm somewhat torn here, because now he's said that, I can't get it out of my head. I think it probably is a bit feminine sounding to me, and the more I get used to it the more I like it. On top of this, I grew up with a boys name, I'm Steve and I'm a girl. On the one hand, it was kind of difficult and still provides me with some difficult situations. On the other, for a great many reasons I've grown to really like it, I'm never stuck for a conversation starter and people always remember me...and Raphael isn't quite as Mannish as Steve....but then, I thought Raphael was too out there for a boy...

Anyway, all opinions welcome. Not just Yes or No, but any reasons or associations. I'm not pregnant or anything yet, but my list grows ever shorter and I need to be careful about what gets left in...

Comments

[jordle.livejournal.com]

My French house mate is Raphaele. She's a little weird but the name suits her!

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

yes I would go with Raphaele/Raphaelle

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, I hadn't considered a feminised version! thank you!

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

I like it. I hadn't considered it a girls name before, but saying it outloud definitely sounds more feminine. I like it better than Rachel/Rachael.

If she doesn't like having a boys name you could call her by her middle name or by a nick name. Ray/Rae is gender neutral as a nn.

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

This is also very helpful. Cos the SO was saying he liked Fie as a nn, which I thought was fine while she was just a baby but I didn't see it as a viable alternative in later years. But Rae I really like...

[my-little-voice.livejournal.com]

i think i heard it on a girl once. that said, i don't know if i like the name for either sex.

[cathblue7.livejournal.com]

I LOVE it! Years ago, I had a friend named Raphael...she was lovely and I was fascintated by her name! :o)

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

Why not Raphaela?

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I really like it for a boy, but I'm not a fan of it for a girl, I have a male friend called Raphael so its hard for me to picture it on a girl.

[beepandetch.livejournal.com]

I actually really like the sound of it. It flows well and is very sophisticated in a pretty way. I would go with the feminized version of it, Raphaelle.

Also, I am intrigued by your name. Why did you parents name you Steve? Did they think you were going to be a boy? Do you have a brother named Lisa?

[holidaylights.livejournal.com]

Besides Raphaele/Raphaelle, have you considered Raphaela? I know a few girls named that, and I've always though it's gorgeous.

[kaoriz.livejournal.com]

Ooo, I think that's pretty. And Raphael definitely could be feminine, especially since it ends in 'El', a typically feminine ending. I likeee!

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Yeah...that was the main reason I was always a little dubious about using it...

[pinkysmith.livejournal.com]

i agree that raphael is a sort of "flowery" name for a male but i like it. as for using it on a girl, why not use it as a middle name and call her that at home if you find yourselves gravitating to it?

how hard a time do you anticipate her having being named raphael? i think that might be easier than what you've experienced with your name. can't explain that reasoning but that's what i think.

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean... my name is such a male name, it just sounds manly, whereas I think the sound of Raphael is at least more feminine...

The thing it, having done it myself, I know that it really isnt as hard as people would imagine. People get used to it amazingly quickly, and even as a kid people weren't really that mean...but it stall can be a hassle, you know?

[cybeleadam.livejournal.com]

Just spell it Raphaëlle and it's a perfectly normal name for a girl.

[penguiny7.livejournal.com]

No. But Raphaela is really pretty. Or I suppose you could spell it Raphaelle.

[solagirl.livejournal.com]

I would only use for a boy.

[solitudete.livejournal.com]

Raphael doesn't sound feminine to me at all... Raphaela would be nice. Raphaelle is a good feminine spelling but it will still sound like the masculine version when spoken.

[velkoria.livejournal.com]

I hate Raphaela because it's just sticking an 'a' after the name and I quite like Raphael for a girl and not for a boy.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

I don't like it at all for a girl, sorry. The reason being - it's a boys' name and I don't really like boys' names on girls

[eeangel44.livejournal.com]

It's a boys name no.

[heavenisnearyou.livejournal.com]

I think Raphael is passable for a girl. Kind of like Raquel but softer-sounding.

[monkey-fruit.livejournal.com]

No, sorry, it's a boys' name for me.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I think the closest that I could ever get to it being for a girl would be Raphaela, which a lot of other comments have said, but I think that that's really ugly and still sounds like it's for a boy. Raphaele/Raphaelle look ridiculous and made up. So, I guess that my opinion is just no. Raphael is a boy's name, and putting it on a girl won't make it a girl's name or even unisex. I don't think it's too feminine for a boy.

[chirpygirly.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't do Raphael. It's too known as a masculine name. I'd go with the feminized, Raphaella. Also, I think Fay would be a better nick name, particularly for an adult woman.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

There's also Raffaela (I know someone of that name...)

Raphael for a girl is definitely not my style, I can't decide whether it's the artist, the archangel or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle who's blocking it.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

I knew a girl named Raphaela. She went by Raffi sometimes.