Why is it pretentious Its an Old English pronounciation and he s English Ralph says this Why is your named pronounced Rafe It s a rather outmoded use of that name in English I was named after my stepgrandfastep great grandfather No sorry step grandfather who was called Rafe and spelled his name Ralph And my father admired it and he wanted to call his son Rafe and spell it Ralph I ve met the odd Rafe but Ralph They do exist but they re quite rare