Definitions of rather:

• adverb:   to some (great or small) extent

  Example: "It was rather cold"

• adverb:   on the contrary

  Example: "Rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"

• adverb:   to a degree (not used with a negative)
• adverb:   more readily or willingly

  Example: "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"

• name:  A surname (rare: 1 in 100000 families; popularity rank in the U.S.: #12151)