Ralph Fiennes had major regrets over not addressing how his name is spelled and pronounced

Ralph Fiennes has big regrets over not addressing the way his name is spelled and pronounced, but reckons it's 'too late' to change it now.

You see, the Harry Potter actor’s first name isn’t pronounced the way ‘Ralph’ usually is.

Ralph in this case is not pronounced like the name of the main character in Wreck-It-Ralph or Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons.

Ralph Fiennes’ first name is pronounced similarly to the actor Rafe Spall’s.

Since an actor’s name is the best way for a star to market themselves, there’s no wonder the Maid in Manhattan star has some regrets.

The 60-year-old star sat down with The Hollywood Reporter in 2011 to discuss his directing debut Coriolanus.

The BAFTA-winning actor was asked about the story behind the pronunciation of his name.

“There is a story and sometimes I wish I had fixed it earlier on,” he confessed.

“There is a tradition in the UK, in England of pronouncing ‘Ralph’ as ‘Rafe’. It’s one of those weird peculiar English things where something is pronounced completely different from how its spelled.

“But I believe my father named me after his step-grandfather his name was Ralph Eastwood, nicknamed Rusty, but spelt R-A-L-P-H.

“And I wanted to, I suppose, honour my parents giving me this name and keeping up the spelling but I have - I’ve come on occasion to regret it because it would be easier."

Consider us shocked.

The Menu actor added: “But there was a point when I thought it’s too late. I put myself out there calling myself ‘Rafe’ spelled ‘Ralph’.

“I keep thinking, ‘Should I change it now?’ I feel it’s too late.”

He added: “But, you know, that was the name I was born with and I sort of have some weird thing about I’m sticking with what I was given.”

The Academy Award-nominated actor also joked that his surname also causes ‘problems’ in terms of how it’s pronounced.

Fans shared their shock in the comments after a clip from the interview was shared on TikTok.

“He Who Shall Not Be (Easily) Named,” one person commented.

Another user added: “I lost a quiz because of this. The correct answer is Ralph Fiennes. I pronounced it Rafe. I was judged to have given the wrong answer!!!!”

A third wrote: “Glad this interviewer respectfully got to resolve this question!”

Now you're all fully prepped for the next pub quiz question about Ralph Fiennes.

Featured Image Credit: Abaca Press / PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity

Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for LADbible. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.