Ralph/Raif?

[10ClarionSt]

Since when did the name Ralph become Raif? Are there any Ralphs or Raifs out there to explain this? I'm baiffled. I mean baffled.

[Artful]

The Ralfs that I know or German, or if you prefer East European.

[Artful]

* (doing a smudge!) are German not or Ger...

[Peter Pedant]

erm I think Rayf is older than Ralph

the el sometimes signals a vowel change - walk and talk spring to mind. Apparently polk as in the US president of the nineteenth century the el is sounded - and doesnt rhyme with yolk.

But even some old Ralphs insist that it is a short a and the el is sounded.

[Aschenbach]

Ralph Finnes the actor is pronounced Raif. He said "It is something I regret not changing earlier on. Actually, Steven Spielberg said I should have changed the spelling. Ralph used to be pronounced 'Rafe.' Maybe five or six generations ago, it wouldn't have caused so much confusion

Also why is Colin Powell pronunced with an O?

A lot of Catherines seem to have renamed themselves 'Kat' since it seems trendy to do so. I don't know.

[Ralph]

I'm Ralph, pronounced Ralf. I always assumed the Raif pronunciation (also spelt Ralph) was used by people who either were, or wanted to be from the upper class, kind of like Mrs Bucket (pronounced Bouqet) from that awful Keeping Up Appearances programme.
When I was being confirmed, the bishop referred to me as Raif, it was the first time I'd ever heard if that pronunciation. I didn't reply for ages and when I realised he was talking to me, I was mortified! Obvoiusly a posh bishop!

[flaming]

I, too, thought it was a posh way of pronouncing what I had always taken as a normal English name, Ralph.  There was a TV drama some years back with the anti-hero (Nigel Havers) called Ralph, and his wife or mistress called him 'Raif'.  After 'Raif' Fiennes, I thpought I must have been 'common' all these years, pronouncing it incorrectly! 

I can never understand why 'Menzies' is 'Minghis' or however it is said. 

[spudqueen]

Aschenbach - Colin Powell was christened Colin (as we Brits know it) as his parents were from the West Indies, but the Americans apparently can't pronounce Colin as Colin unless it is spelt Collin, so therefore they pronounce it Coalin!

[flaming]

That's funny - one of Tony's cronies at No.10 (an UNELECTED one) - is (somebody).. Powell. only it is said 'Pole', for some reason.  I think that applies to any posh Powell, as the Author, Anthony Powell, is/was(?) a 'Pole'.   Can any Powells shed any light, please?

[brionon]

When did Ralf become Ralph ? When the idiot Classicists decided that our English language would be better if we accepted Greek spellings and Latin grammar.