Do you stress the first syllable- "RA-fee-uhl", or the last- "ra-fee-EL"?
*The last syllable. I always use the Spanish pronunciation (rah-fah-EL), but in my accent it actually sounds like rah-fie-EL ("ie" as in pie).
Is the 'a' more like "cat" or "caught"?
*caught (au, ah, and aw are the same in my accent)
If you encountered it on a white, American child, how would you assume it to be pronounced?
*I would have no idea.
What do think of the nn
Rafe?
*I like
Rafe, but it only makes sense if
Raphael is pronounced with RAYF as the first syllable. I have never heard
Raphael pronounced that way.
And lastly, Wdyt of the name in general and do you prefer
Raphael or
Rafael?
*I like the name. Both spellings are good. I wouldn't use it because it is too hard to pronounce / too many different pronunciations.