Indian name for English girl?

[Eddiethehorse]

We are English but we love an Indian name...Aarti...I know a couple and I've liked them a lot! Weird to give an Indian name to an English baby girl? Thoughts on Aarti as a name irrespective of origin?

[NadiaWadia]

Hmm ... do you pronounce it the same as Artie (boys' name short for Arthur?)

[Eddiethehorse]

Yes!

[Purplehonesty]

Nice but think the kids would rib her a bit for being 'arty' or call her 'farty' perhaps?
The first thing that came to my mind was farty but then I am quite childish I suppose!

[Eddiethehorse]

Lol I had exactly the same thought!

[fluffygal]

I know someone who is half indian, half English. Her name is Shelina which I think is really pretty. I would expect an Aarti to be indian but if you like it, go for it. Not everyone is going to like the same name.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

It's not weird to use or like an Indian name but not that one for the reason above.

[fluffygal]

Just remembered the name Afia was on my list for DD2 I am not indian!

[ZenNudist]

It might seem a bit silly depending on what your surname is. Personally I don't think it's appropriate unless you have Indian heritage but I'm a bit twitchy about that kind of thing & some people would just say go with what you like.

I also don't think it's such a nice name, going through life as 'Artie'. Its not great to have a name you have to spell all the time (my maiden surname was foreign & I found life much nicer when I no longer had to spell a whole bit of my name out.)

Each to their own, sorry to sound damning!

[thesaurusgirl]

You're mispronouncing it. Everyone who isn't Indian will pronounce it wrong. The 't' pronunciation doesn't exist in English. I know this because I studied Sanskrit for a term and this may be the first time it has ever come in useful!

[thesaurusgirl]

What about Arte, short for Artemis?

[PeppiNephrine]

You might have studied sanskrit for a few weeks, but you know there are about 400 languages spoken in India, and a great number of them do not have a sanskrit base?
www.forvo.com/word/aarti/

[CharlieCoCo]

my dentist is called Artie. she is Indian (British) though.
I like the name Keshini for an Indian name.

[thesaurusgirl]

Peppie, aarthi is a Sanskrit word. It's a prayer. When you can say it out loud in something approximating accuracy, you'll be better qualified to patronise.

[PeppiNephrine]

aarthi is not the given name Aarti. See how its spelled differently?
The link given has an indian woman pronouncing it. I think she is qualified to patronise?

[thesaurusgirl]

To my ear, the first pronunciation on that recording is correct. The second one doesn't sound like a native speaker.

[Blu]

The (of Indian heritage) person that I know called Arti pronounces it Arti.

[thesaurusgirl]

Peppi There is no English equivalent - aarti, arathi and aarthi are used interchangeably because it's a phonetic spelling of a word that is physically impossible for native English speakers to pronounce.

Any native speakers care to adjudicate?

[thesaurusgirl]

Blu I think a lot of British Indians anglicise the spellings of their names to make them easier for English speakers. The letters 'd' and 't' are a phonetic approximation of a sound that doesn't exist in English.

[ByTheWishingWell]

I don't think it matters where the name is originally from- lots of non-British names fall into use here. If you like it, go for it! (I may be slightly biased- my British DC has a Russian first name. I have never regretted it, or thought it doesn't 'fit'.)

Congratulations!

[BikeRunSki]

I know a little girl who is English, but whose mother had always loved a Greek name (not one that has become a mainstream English name). Her mum then married a man of Polish heritage, so the girl is English with GreekFirstName PolishSurname. Yiu know what? it' s fine, it' s just her name now.

[thesaurusgirl]

Anglicise the pronunciation of their names, sorry. And the spellings are a phonetic approximation of the original Sanskrit or other language.

[RayofSun]

Of Indian heritage and agree with thesaurus girl. Nothing to do with thread, just sticking my oar in

[justanuthermanicmumsday]

Not weird if you think all the different cultures we have in the uk. English folks dotn keep English names always I.e Scottish, irish. What's the difference?

Many Asians keep English names.

Im of Bangladeshi heritage but muslim so we tend to have Arabic, Persian or yes English sounding names. It may be due to the fact that Bengalis are a minority with regards to faith, prior to islam many were Hindus and a smaller minority were Christians . Also not pure race so you get Nepalese and Burmese influences too. I.e my mums cousin is named Helena,I've heard of Susan and Libby, and Lana.

I was shocked to meet an IT teacher once he said his name was Ronnie.
So I went along to sign up on the course I was shocked to be met with an Asian man I had to keep my composure and not show the shock didn't want to be rude lol. Now I've been told by my brother Ronny and Johnny are quite common in Bangladesh :o

But arti could easily cross the border. It doesn't matter arthi. I too know an Indian woman by that name everyone calls her arty, except her family who pronounce the h sound.

[Blu]

thesaurusgirl - i know all my ILs are Indian diaspora and many not first language English speakers. i know the t/d sound of which you speak, which English speakers can very well master - and frankly if second and third generation Indians in the UK choose to pronounce theri name 'Arti', why shouldn't EddieTheHorse?

My DPs name is pronounced differently depending on which country he is in - and his mother says it totally differntly to the way he says it. Neither seem to think the other is wrong.