My old Music Master at school (He could talk, his name was Fr Carroll!), insisted on calling me "Rafe"
(Didn't like it then, don't like it now,and made me the object of ridicule by several Neanderthals in my class).
As I am an old man myself now, "Rafe" still doesn't suit me!
But, like you, are there any etymologists out there who can help?

I much prefer my middle name "Cuthbert" ....decent bloke by all accounts.
Bit of an Abbot apparently. Somewhere Oop North.
Not that I've ever been that far North Me'sen.
Seriously, how did my noble name become bastardised?