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HelpRaphan
Would this work as a male first name? It is growing on me, and would honor my mother's family whose surname is Rahn--but Rahn is a shortened form of the original German surname Raphan. I am pretty sure it was pronounced RAY-fahn in German, but I'd probably say it closer to RAY-fin. It sort of reminds me of a hybrid, Raphael x Nathan. It would be quite unique, and not annoyingly trendy.
Opinions, impressions?
Opinions, impressions?
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I was thinking it as ruh-FAHN - interesting how we've all got different pronunciations. I quite like it.
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I like it
It looks Handsome and doesn't look made up really
It looks Handsome and doesn't look made up really
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On first sight, I'm saying this name "ruh-FAN" in my head, and thinking it's possibly Hebrew, Arabic or Indian in origin. I was really not expecting it to be German! I do agree a bit with humblebee in that the name itself and the pronunciation "RAY-fin" skirts the trendy category (especially in that it reminded me of a Biblical name, which are pretty hot right now), but there's nothing wrong with that. If it was spelled Raephyn or something, THEN it would be in the annoyingly trendy category :)
It's an interesting name, I like it.
It's an interesting name, I like it.
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I love the idea of honoring your mom's family, and I like the look of Raphan. I'm really not loving RAY-fin, though. I find it non-intuitive; I want to pronounce names that start with Raph- or Raf- with a RAH or RA (like cat) sound. I also think RAY-fin trendifies the name. I mean, a "two-syllable name with a long A and an -n ending" perfectly describes the most common current trend in boys' names.
With a different pronunciation, I think Raphan would be okay as a first name. I'd save RAY-fin for the middle position. FWIW, I think Rahn would be a handsome middle name, too.
With a different pronunciation, I think Raphan would be okay as a first name. I'd save RAY-fin for the middle position. FWIW, I think Rahn would be a handsome middle name, too.
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That's interesting. I asked a few people around me right now what their intuitive pronunciation is given the spelling when written down, and they each said RAY-fin. To me it is intuitive as well, like the "a" in David, Nathan, Gabriel, and so on. But then, I don't think pronunciations necessarily have to be intuitive, for example: Sean, Siobhan, Filene, Cecile (the computer pronounce it sess-EYE-ul), Phineas (I see FINE-eez), and so on.
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It might be the presence of the ph/F-sound that does it for me. Looking at Raphan, trying to figure out how it's pronounced without a frame of reference, my mind goes immediately to names like Raphael or Rafael, Rafa, Rafferty, Rafiq, and the like, and I want to borrow pronunciation cues from them.
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I like it - but only if it is pronounced RAFFun. Then, it sounds pretty neat. That's how I would intuitively pronounce it. Honestly, RAY-fin does sound annoyingly trendy to me. Along the lines of ZAY-din. And it smacks a tiny bit of the word rape because of the RAY sound and the P in it. And I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Germans would not pronounce it with a RAY sound.
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With RAY-fin, though, the sound creates the thought of someone 'kre8tivlee' altering Raven (another name that does not appeal), and thus being voguish.
What is my opinion? It is certainly not something that I would lose much sleep over (it holds an evolving charm and adept proficiency, after all, with the right pronunciation), but it is also not something that I would necessary enthusiastically support.
While Raphan wouldn't be "trendy" in the true sense, the contour and anatomy strongly resemble modish name construction and taste.
- Francesca
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 9:41 AM
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I understand that the rhythm and sounds do resemble some modern trends, but in this instance, it doesn't bother me. In fact, it has a rather pleasing effect to me for some reason.
You're probably right about the German pronunciation. I suppose RAY-fahn would be more like Räphan. I would still pronounce it RAY-fin myself, though. He'd probably be called Ray, a name of which I have a good impression through multiple positive associations. But then there is Raph (rayf) which is also pleasing to me.
You're probably right about the German pronunciation. I suppose RAY-fahn would be more like Räphan. I would still pronounce it RAY-fin myself, though. He'd probably be called Ray, a name of which I have a good impression through multiple positive associations. But then there is Raph (rayf) which is also pleasing to me.
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