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Rafe is a variant of Ralph.
Ultimately no one will really know why he chooses the pronounciation that he chooses. Perhaps do some research on the actor and you may find something.

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This message was edited 5/3/2006, 8:06 PM

Rafe was the standard English pronunciation until the spread of mass education made people aware that there was an L in there ... and they started pronouncing it. So now, ironically, it has snob value. Also, it's got a theatrical pedigree (Ralph Richardson in fact, Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore on the stage) that any actor might value.