Raphael or Rafael?

amother

Sun, May 15 2022, 9:56 am

Which spelling is better/more Jewish for the English name? We are Modern Orthodox and English name would be used a lot. We would use the nickname Rafi and רפאל for the Hebrew name.

singleagain

Sun, May 15 2022, 10:04 am

I'm not sure what you mean by "better/more Jewish"

But I do want to say, I worked with a Raffy and my non Jewish coworkers still sometimes say "ralphie"

fbc

Sun, May 15 2022, 10:06 am

If you are going to use Rafi as the English spelling, I'd stick with Rafael just for consistency's sake. It does happen to be the spelling I like better anyway.

amother

Sun, May 15 2022, 10:07 am

singleagain wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean by "better/more Jewish"

But I do want to say, I worked with a Raffy and my non Jewish coworkers still sometimes say "ralphie"

I mean that Raphael/Rafael is a name in many languages/cultures/religions. I would like to use the spelling with the correct connotation for our family - what American MO Jews would use.

essie14

Sun, May 15 2022, 10:51 am

fbc wrote:

If you are going to use Rafi as the English spelling, I'd stick with Rafael just for consistency's sake. It does happen to be the spelling I like better anyway.

Agreed.
It will be way less confusing.
I do know a Raphy but I prefer Rafi and would use Rafael for the full name.

amother

Royalblue

Sun, May 15 2022, 10:53 am

I have a rafi and his passport says Rafi.
Iv gotten comments from non jewish nurses etc that its a beautiful name.

Supposedly its not a specifically jewish sounding name..?

amother

Emerald

Sun, May 15 2022, 2:56 pm

I was never a fan of ph names. I like it with an f.
Just my personal opinion.

otstud

Sun, May 15 2022, 3:24 pm

I have a refael, nickname also rafi. I love the Hebrew version- hence the spelling

amother

Sienna

Sun, May 15 2022, 9:49 pm

I'm American MO and I would choose Raphael. To me, biblical name = biblical spelling (like Hannah even if you say Chana or Esther with the 'h').

amother

Brickred

Sun, May 15 2022, 11:22 pm

I’m not sure what you mean by biblical spelling? Hannah is how it’s spelled in the Christian bible.

In response to OP, and on a related note to this, I think Raphael is the more common non Jewish spelling and Rafael is therefore what I would use

amother

Sienna

Sun, May 15 2022, 11:26 pm

amother [ Brickred ] wrote:

Nope but ok. Biblical= Jewish Biblical as in correct transliteration. Chana is pronounced with a "ch" as in "cheese" whereas Hannah (technically with a dot under the H) is the correct spelling for a guttural "ch" sound.

And the spelling Rafael is made up but definitely not the traditionally Biblical Jewish spelling.

Odelyah

Mon, May 16 2022, 12:00 am

I vote none of the above, but rather Rephael or Refael or Rephoel or Refoel. I'd probably do Rephael. I think the e goes with the sheva under the reish better than an a.

amother

Mistyrose

Mon, May 16 2022, 2:49 am

I have a Rafi and a Hannah. Rafi is Raphael in English - it's elegant and international. Rafi every day, yes with the "f", but that's just a nickname quirk. Raphael is a name that crosses all borders and languages. Hatzlacha x