Etymology

Proper noun

1. .

Quotations

• 1594 William Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew: Act IV, Scene I:

  There were none fine but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory:

  The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly

• 1998 The Spectator, 7 March 1998, page 55 ("Dear Mary..."):

  Regarding the correct pronunciation, especially of the name Ralph: according to a friend at the BBC, the possibilities of this name - either aristocratic 'Rafe' or vulgar, almost Australasian 'Ralff' - lie in its potential for wilful mispronunciation against type. I saw him cast confusion into an over-confident studio guest by introducing him as 'Sir Rafe Halpern'. This was nothing to the consternation, almost disintegration of the personality, of the artistic, aloof actor brought on as 'Rolf Fiennes' ('Fiennes', naturally, pronounced superbly).

Proper noun

1. borrowed from English, more often spelled Ralf.