Western/Islamic name ideas??

[bluemango]

My DH and I are looking for a boy's name that works across our mixed cultures. It needs to be something that works Islamically and we'd prefer something that's easy and comfortable for both sets of relatives to use and pronounce.

We really have no idea at all and time is running out. We don't even have a shortlist, although Noah is my DH's top choice at the moment. Would that work? Any other suggestions? Help, please - I'm sooo stuck!!

[madlentileater]

Adam?

[TotalChaos]

Yaqub/Jacob, Isaac/Ishaq

[nomorecake]

Noah isnt pronounced the same in arabic i think its Nooh.

these names might work, but its important to check the meanings and spelling with someone who would know properly.

kamran
Ali
rafi
adham
Zakariya
sulaiman
nasser
omar
samir
rayyan
kasim
amir
malik
z ain
bilal (nn billy)
adnan
shah
haris
hanan

[Firawla]

Adam
Zakariyya
Zaki
Sami

[BlueChampagne]

Haroun is lovely, and more people will have heard of it thanks to Salman Rushdie.

[HerHonesty]

ali

[mumoverseas]

Sami and Rami are both nice islamic names which would be ok in england too.
Obvious islamic names would be Mohammed and Ali and Cherif and less known ones such as Shafraz, Mataib, Bassam

[Sariska]

My ds is Noah. The Arabic/Islamic version is generally spelt Nuh in English and pronounced more like Nooh. That's what my PIL called my ds at first although now they more often say Noah. We don't mind either way. Just wanted a name that at least has an Islamic equivalent. Oh, and Noah is considered a prophet in Islam.

[bluemango]

Thanks everyone, I'll definitely be trying these out the next couple days, and DH seems excited by them too!

Right now he still seems stuck on Noah but we're just concerned about the different pronunciation - but if it refers to the same person, does it really matter, especially if the ILs can call him Nuh/Nooh?

Tks again

[Sally52]

I am a Grandmother to be. My daughter who is of mixed Eroupian background and her husband who's parents are originally from an Arab county, are about to have a baby boy. The name they have decided on, which is my SIL father's name is Burhan! The baby will already have Arabic surname. I know my daughter is not keen on this name but has agreed to please her husband who is talking about "tradition". Appart from the meaning of the name: Proof (that Alah exists), I founf the sound of the name particulary unpleasant. I am very upset and am trying to imagine how will I address my grandson with such an alian name to my ears and tounge. I can only imagine what the rest of the non-Arab family will make out of it. I love my daughter and my SIL and am not sure if I should say anything now or just but up for ever? Will I feel more distant from my grandson with such name?

[SS3J]

I sympathise Sally52, but I think you may be seen as interfering if you say anything. Perhaps you should talk to your daughter though, if you think she is unhappy with the name. As the mother she definitely needs to feel comfortable with her son's name! The only other suggestion I have is maybe to come up with a pet name you can use for your grandson instead. But overall I would say don't worry - you will love him whatever his name is, and his name is not going to change his personality, or how much he loves his grandmother.

[SS3J]

Oh, and Sally, if you start a new thread with your question you might get more responses. This thread is a few years old.

[EirikurNoromaour]

Sally52 you sound ridiculous.

[OKmum]

Amir
Naim

[Sally52]

Thank you SS3J.
Eirikur, Please explain why ridiculous?

[EirikurNoromaour]

Because it's not your child. You don't get to be upset about the name they chose. Plus you sound kind of racist.

[Nataleejah]

By islamic do you mean arabic, or whetever is common to your husband's nationality?

My first thought is Adam -- no need for different spelling or translation

[Nataleejah]

... And i quite like the name Hamzah

[Sally52]

Nataleejah, I didn't start the tread. I mean Arabic. I have no problem with Arabic or foreign names. Just expect that the couples of mixed backgrounds (they are both British by the way, born and bread) would be sensitive to the families they both come from. My daughter is of mixed Nationality herself and we chose the name that is comfortable in both languages. My SIL's parent gave their children Western names as they were born in UK.

Eirikur, I am aware that I don't chose the name, but if the grandparents (or extended family) don't matter, my SIL would not be giving his child his father's name. I wonder if you would call me racist if the roles were reversed and for example, my daughter insisted of calling her son Dzcyrusz and the meaning of the word was something like Proof that Jesus is son of good?

[Sally52]

...And I think that is where I find it most problematic..the meaning of the name. "Proof that Alah (God) Exists". As a non-believer, it sounds ridiculous to me. Like calling the child "Proof that Zeus Exist".

[msvee]

Ssally I understand where you are coming from . Not meaning to be rude but in mixed relationship (in my experience) the islam side tends to be more dominant.

Theres nothing you can do. Speak to your daughter but like someone else said you will have to get a cute nickname.

[raisah]

Sally - Rather than focussing on the cultural differences & 'alien' name & problematic meaning, how about sharing your excitement at the prospect of being a gm with your dd. You could present her with names that still fall into the 'traditional' bracket such as:

Adam
Noah/Nuh
Danyaal / Daniel
Eisa / Jesus
Haroun/ Aaron
Joseph / Yusuf
Jacob / Yacoub
Idris

All of these are Prophetic names that are shared between Islam, Judaism & Christianity. The Hebrew variants have meanings similar in the same way that Burhan does but nobody thinks they are weird because they have s become mainstream & part of the culture here. But the origin of names like Adam & Joseph are not English or European, they are Hebrew.
Also, some people called Joseph etc may not be believers either but that doesnt stop them from using the name.

I think you need to calm yourself and take each day as it comes, don't let anxieties spoil a lovely time in your family. Come across as welcoming & accepting & your son in law maybe less uptight about maintaining tradition.

My cousin's called Idris & he was teased for it 'ehat a strange weird name etc'. Now it is suddenly cool because of the actor Idris Elba & people who aren't muslim are naming their sons that!

[raisah]

Sally - Rather than focussing on the cultural differences & 'alien' name & problematic meaning, how about sharing your excitement at the prospect of being a gm with your dd. You could present her with names that still fall into the 'traditional' bracket such as:

Adam
Noah/Nuh
Danyaal / Daniel
Eisa / Jesus
Haroun/ Aaron
Joseph / Yusuf
Jacob / Yacoub
Idris

All of these are Prophetic names that are shared between Islam, Judaism & Christianity. The Hebrew variants have meanings similar in the same way that Burhan does but nobody thinks they are weird because they have s become mainstream & part of the culture here. But the origin of names like Adam & Joseph are not English or European, they are Hebrew.
Also, some people called Joseph etc may not be believers either but that doesnt stop them from using the name.

I think you need to calm yourself and take each day as it comes, don't let anxieties spoil a lovely time in your family. Come across as welcoming & accepting & your son in law maybe less uptight about maintaining tradition.

My cousin's called Idris & he was teased for it 'ehat a strange weird name etc'. Now it is suddenly cool because of the actor Idris Elba & people who aren't muslim are naming their sons that!

[Sally52]

Thank you Raisah. Enjoying the prospect of being grandmother and sharing the excitment with my daughter and SIL, and not liking the chosen name are not exclusive. Can i not do both?
And as i don't want to interfere, i am having a little moan here.