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Raphael is very handsome. It has a romantic touch but is still masculine. The healing meaning is nice too. If I had to use a nick name, I would go with Rafe. Raffi doesn't sound pleasant. Rafferty is okay, but it sounds like a brand.

Raphael: Italian Renaissance painter, archangel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...
It's a handsome name, though. The only one I've known who spelt it that way was extremely good-looking and knew it. I have also known a few Rafaels, including one of my favourite ceramic artists, who goes by Rafa. I like it, not enough to use, but it's a good name.

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Rafi is a fairly common Indian and Arabic name, not short for anything, so that might be confusing. I'd use Raf/Raph, if anything.

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Dislike Rafferty. It's better as a surname: it doesn't have all the good associations of Raphael. eta: fun on a scruffy sort of dog, though!

This message was edited 5/15/2017, 10:51 AM

I like it, it's handsome, underused. Raphael was my grandfather's name but I never met him and for most of his life he went by Ralph. I like Raffi better than Ralph but I'm still not a huge fan, it sounds goofy.

I know a Rafael who is about ten so that's my image of it. He's not an extraordinary kid ... likes video games, good at sports, ok at school, dark hair, cute face, generally smart and sensitive, laughs a lot, punched a kid who was picking on him and shoving him at school, sometimes immature for his age and annoying, and sometimes devious.

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I like Rafael more than Raphael, and either more than Rafferty. Raphael makes me think of angels. The name is also a little bit hard to get used to saying out loud. Rafferty sounds kind of unserious, to me. I think Raffi sounds a little childish and would be outgrown (maybe to become Raf).

I like Raphael / Rafael with the nn Rafi or Raf. I really don't like Rafferty as a given name. I've only ever seen it as a surname.

I really like Raphael; it makes me think of a lively, good-spirited guy. I like Rafferty, but it does give me a different feel--more of a rough-and-tumble, sporty vibe. If I had to choose, I'd probably pick Rafferty only because I like the simplicity of its sound but I still think Raphael is pretty great.

I dislike Rafferty a lot. It sounds like 'raffish', which isn't good. Raphael isn't a favourite, but I'd use it in a heartbeat rather than Rafferty.

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Raphael makes me think of Rafael, as in Rafa Nadal. A healthy, competent, beautiful association. And I once knew a Raphael whose nn was Rafi, pronounced RAYfee. Either of those would be nicer than Raffi, I think.