Arabia

[quirrelquarrel]

I love this name...but I don't know if I'd ever be brave enough to name a little baby it!
Opinions?

[mavornia]

Sorry, don't like it at all and I do like unusual names

also makes me think of Labia

[Macaroona]

Hahaha! Please no.

[Mackrelmint]

I don't like the sound of the word and find it a bit odd naming people after geographical areas (although along similar lines I do think Persia and Oceana sound quite cool and Syria would make a pretty name)

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Very silly but no sillier than India.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I don't think Arabia or Syria have very good connotations at the moment.

Sometimes cowardice is a good thing!

[quirrelquarrel]

I had a friend called India a while ago, so it's pretty normal to me, that name.

Ah pity! I love the sound and also how it looks written down...I don't know anything about the place, apart from Arabian Nights and all that rather inappropriate (for a child) jazz, it's more about its base value.

Syria sounds a bit thin to me.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

It's not a name, it's a geographical location.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Um, well Saudi Arabia is the place where women aren't allowed to drive or go out without a male escort.

Not a good name to give a girl.

Syria is one of the places where the people are getting shot for rising up against their government at the moment.

[tigercametotea]

It just sounds a bit Aladdin to me... .... Err... no.

[quirrelquarrel]

Who says it would be for a girl? :)

For either. It wouldn't be picked for its meaning.

[Amaretti]

It's not a name it's a country. Don't be silly.

[quirrelquarrel]

Um, it's the name of a country?

Yes, I'm being awkward. But who cares? That rule is obselete. Not sure if it was ever contentious in the past, but especially not now when you can practically name your kids anything and everything. What about London, Paris, Alexandria etc...

[TheMonster]

NO.

[SugarSkyHigh]

as in Lawrence Of ?

[GrimmaTheNome]

It wouldn't be picked for its meaning.

yes, but the child could be picked on for its meaning.

Some placenames work ok; Alexandria was of course named after Alexander, so thats fine as a name anyhow. But others are just too loaded.

[MelinaM]

No, no and no!

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Well then why stop at Arabia? Libya is a lovely sounding name for a girl. Lydia is on my shortlist, there's not much difference. Afghanistan is a cool name for a boy. The possibilities are endless!

[shoobidoo]

I know an India.

[shoobidoo]

And a Madison, Paris and Florence.

[shoobidoo]

And I once knew a boy called Chad.

[bigbluebump]

Pasta sauce - you mean Arrabiata .

I think place names are fine if you have a connection to the area. I find it odd when people name their children India or Florence without any connection to India or the Italian City.

(at least Florence Nightingale was born in Florence ).

[cumbria81]

Pasta Arabia.

[tammytoby]

I don't think Arabia is any different than India or for example but I do think that having a connection to the place helps.

[birdofthenorth]

I would find it very hard not to think Laurence Of