"Rafe" Fiennes question for Brits

[Carol]

Carol earlier:
> >
> > Just out of curiosity, is "Rafe" a nickname for Ralph (used by
Ralph Fiennes and others) or is it the normal pronunciation of the
name Ralph in England/Britain? 
> 
> Geoff:
> It is one of two ways in which it is pronounced and, yes, it is the
one used by Ralph Fiennes. Another well known "Rafe" was Ralph
Vaughan-Williams, the famous English composer.
> 
> The other way in which it is pronounced is as it is spelt - ie "Ralf".
>
Carol:
Thanks, Geoff. I do know that Ralph Fiennes pronounces his name as
"Rafe." That's why I asked the question. Just to be clear, you're
saying that "Rafe" is not a nickname for Ralph but an alternative
pronunciation, just as the name Stephen can be pronounced as "Steven"
or "Steffen"? (And, for all I know, "Geoffrey" may be pronounced as
"Jeffrey" or "Joffrey" <smile>.)

Which is the more common pronunciation of Ralph, and is it regional,
do you think? (Ralph is pronounced only as "Ralf" in the U.S. to my
knowledge, but there may be exceptions that I'm not aware of, not
counting Rafer Johnson, who is not a Ralph.)

Thanks,
Carol, curious as always about British/American differences