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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Arabia

29 replies

quirrelquarrel · 19/06/2011 18:33

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

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MackerelOfFact · 20/06/2011 14:16

I don't like it, sorry. Would get shortened to Arab too which is even more grim.

MrsRhettButler · 20/06/2011 13:54

India is a completely normal name imo and I'm usedto hearing plenty of weird names and thinking them normal but even I think Arabia is a bit too much sorry op

tammytoby · 20/06/2011 13:31

I still think it helps to have a connection to the place you're named after. I wouldn't name my daughter India if she had no connections to India. Didn't the Nightingales name their daughters (Partenope and Florence) after the towns they were born?

FlingonTheValiant · 20/06/2011 13:07

Florence is a proper name though, not just a place name.

birdofthenorth · 20/06/2011 12:14

I would find it very hard not to think Laurence Of

tammytoby · 20/06/2011 12:00

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.

cumbria81 · 20/06/2011 11:48

Pasta Arabia.

bigbluebump · 20/06/2011 11:29

Pasta sauce Hmm - you mean Arrabiata Smile.

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 Smile).

shoobidoo · 20/06/2011 11:21

And I once knew a boy called Chad.

shoobidoo · 20/06/2011 11:21

And a Madison, Paris and Florence.

shoobidoo · 20/06/2011 11:20

I know an India.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 20/06/2011 09:29

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!

MelinaM · 20/06/2011 00:26

No, no and no!

GrimmaTheNome · 20/06/2011 00:25

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.

SugarSkyHigh · 19/06/2011 21:42

as in Lawrence Of ?

TheMonster · 19/06/2011 21:33

NO.

Original poster
quirrelquarrel · 19/06/2011 21:32

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...

OP posts:
Amaretti · 19/06/2011 21:05

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

Original poster
quirrelquarrel · 19/06/2011 21:04

Who says it would be for a girl? :)

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

OP posts:
tigercametotea · 19/06/2011 19:45

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

GrimmaTheNome · 19/06/2011 19:43

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.

EricNorthmansMistress · 19/06/2011 19:41

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

Original poster
quirrelquarrel · 19/06/2011 19:38

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.

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 19/06/2011 19:35

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

Sometimes cowardice is a good thing!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/06/2011 19:33

Very silly but no sillier than India.

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