In recent years, Ralph has been a name borne mostly by flat-cap-sporting English uncles.
Along with the likes of Bill, Arthur, Jack and Reg, the name was old-fashioned and inelegant.
Now, one man, the thoroughbred and thoroughly delicious Ralph Fiennes, has singlehandedly changed its image: Ralphs are popping up alongside the more familiar Henrys, Jaspers and Joshuas.
But if you do decide to name your son after the handsome and elegant star of The English Patient, Schindler's List and Strange Days, remember one important thing, to pronounce it Rafe.
Such is the nature of a certain sector of British society (and so stretched their vowels) that while they have chosen the name for a son, they cannot bring themselves to call him plain and simple Ralph (as in Ralf) lest, no doubt, he doesn't get into certain schools.
Such comments will probably mean my being bombarded with letters explaining such oral elegance but I shall not be moved.