So why is the name Ralph pronounced Rafe?

Posted by PaPaw85713@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 9 comments

As in Ralph Vaughn Williams or Ralph Fiennes? I hear it both ways here in the US, but most often as Rafe. Is this some "Olde English" thing?

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CurtbroGYT@reddit

I've never heard someone pronounce it as "Rafe"

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Starman1948@reddit

Yes, I've heard people on the tv/radio talk about the composer "Rafe" Vaughan Williams, and the actor "Rafe" Fiennes! I have to stop myself shouting back, "It's RALPH, not Rafe!"

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'Rafe' is how Vaughan Williams pronounced it, it seems. 'L' does seem to go missing in quite a few English words: we can say 'Al-mond' and 'A-mand' and both are correct. Ditto 'amshouse' , 'Almshouse; , and I think both are accepted. Yolk, palm, calf etc. - no 'l' is sounded.

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parttimepedant@reddit

Because some people are pretentious twats.

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this-here@reddit

no, it's the welsh pronunciation

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ToeMany8953@reddit

Not unless they speak old Norse in Wales

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psycho-mouse@reddit

Because people like to appear posher than they actually are.

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Acceptable_Pirate@reddit

My name actually is rafe and it was hell growing up with it it’s only one letter off from some not so savory words and kids in middle school def noticed idk why someone thinks it sounds “posh” lmfao

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Potential-Race-4662@reddit

my name is also one letter off of an unsavoury word so I empathise with your struggle - for context my name is Seren.. you can fill in the blanks.