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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Long sorry - struggling with boys name and cultural references

67 replies

ilovetosleep · 24/01/2014 14:11

Hi, I have namechanged for this as I am convinced I will out myself.

Just found out we are having a second boy which I am struggling with as we had one, perfect girls name and it seems to be impossible to feel the same about any boys names!

We have some criteria...

DS1 is named a popular, relatively common Arabic name S--I. He is 1/4 Middle eastern, Arab (christian) and is baptised. (Also that side of the family is fairly present in our lives) I love his name but I am beginning to regret having chosen an arabic, family name as a) people expect another to follow suit and b) I feel we can't choose a name from another culture/religion as it would seem so irrelevant next to DS1. But I can't find another Arabic name I love.
The only one that really grabs me is Isa, but that would be ridiculous given that it means Jesus in Islam and our child will be christened.

Here are the names I love (and reasons why I feel uncomfortable using them). I really don't want to offend anyone but I have to be honest:

Otis - I love it, but not sure DH loves it enough. It doesn't seem to suit a tiny baby. DH wants something that can be shortened, could Otto be a nn here? I think Otto in itself is a little germanic although they stem from the same origin.

Asa - I LOVE this - but we think it might be too Hebrew? I know this sounds weird given that so many common names are OT but with our family expectations/opinions there are names that can be considered 'too jewish', awful as that sounds. I don't really know if this name does fit into that bracket, I kind of assume it is only widely used among Orthodox but I might be v wrong.

Rafa/Rafael - Too Spanish! (or Italian with other spelling). I really like it despite it becoming pretty popular, but like I explained before it seems odd to introduce another nationality into the mix which we have no link to.

Pablo - As above! Although this is current fave.

Diego - No idea why I am so drawn to spanish names! as above...
Rudy - I think two boys ending in 'ee' is a bit much.

Ted/Theodore - too popular. Was forerunner til last week when an aquaintance named their baby Ted.

Argh. Am stumped. I really love Asa. Ace would be so cool. Please help! I have been through every name book and website, i really don't think I can find anymore names.

Oh and also, my girls name is Etta FYI. I am hoping for a girl in the future so I can use this name, so anything I pick must go with this and obv DS1 name.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

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PleaseNoScar · 02/02/2014 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

florascotia · 02/02/2014 15:04

posted too soon - should be 'Arabic' of course. Sorry!

florascotia · 02/02/2014 15:02

Another fan of Asa.

Just for info, in Scotland 'Isa' (Eye-suh) was used as an abbreviation for 'Isabel' or 'Isabella'. Once it was quite well known. Now it's mostly only heard among older ladies.

Arab-speaking people I have worked with have pronounced 'Isa' (=Jesus) as 'EE-sah'

FlipFantasia · 02/02/2014 14:19

Idris Elba (swoon) - I'd be barred from using idris (which I love!) for the same reason

Original poster

ilovetosleep · 02/02/2014 10:52

I love Idris, but not allowed to use because of Idris Elba (Bit of a crush on him...) and Elias, but we know a few of those. Isis is lovely but was on our girls list? I 've never heard of it being a boys name?

I must admit I do find Adam too boring and knew a lot in my generation so not really feeling it for a baby.

I know Jesus is very common in Spanish speaking world. And I really do love Isa. But I just can't bring myself to use it for those reasons unfortunately... I guess I shouldn't care too much what people think but I know it would go down as being a bit odd.

OP posts:

sashh · 02/02/2014 05:15

Nothing wrong with Isa.

Jesus might be Jesus to you, and I've only ever come across one English speaker who called their child Jesus, but it is common in the Spanish speaking world.

It's not on your list and can be considered boring but Adam cuts across English and Arabic.

Mumtonone · 01/02/2014 23:57

Our short list for boys is currently; Gabriel, Elias, Ilan, Isis and Niall. All Arabic names due to hubby's heritage.

None are sticking as yet. Still on the hunt though!?!

NoelMamereGaelMonfils · 31/01/2014 08:37

How about Idris? Or, running through the Arabic boys I've had in class, Yacine, Kadda, Mohand, Slimane, Nasir, Farid, Lyesse?

GimmeDaBoobehz · 30/01/2014 22:37

Carlo
Leo
Ricardo

stiffstink · 30/01/2014 22:35

Otto?

Timo? Pronounced tee mo.

Wordsaremything · 30/01/2014 22:15

But don't be worried about uniqueness at the expense of all else.

Wordsaremything · 30/01/2014 22:14

Asa reminds me of the historian, Asa Briggs. Love Fabrice ( Nancy Mitford's fictionalised lover in love in a cold climate.)

FlipFantasia · 30/01/2014 19:50

They pronounce it 'Ice-sa'.

How about Shiloh/Shilo?

MarvellousMechanicalMouseOrgan · 30/01/2014 15:40

I know an Irish Isa, she pronounces it Eye-za.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 30/01/2014 14:21

I like Pablo but if your children are mostly English with a bit of Arab/ME thrown in then a Spanish reference will just confuse the hell out of everybody.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 30/01/2014 13:08

Hugo
Draco

Original poster

ilovetosleep · 30/01/2014 13:00

Already know two baby Milos...

OP posts:

HoratiaDrelincourt · 30/01/2014 12:42

Milo?

Original poster

ilovetosleep · 30/01/2014 12:36

Ooh more replies, thanks!

Didn't know that about difference in pronunciation of Asa. I always assumed it was pronounced acer.

I know it as a Swedish girls name too but never heard of Isa as a girls name - do they pronounce it Ice-a or like the beginning on Isabel?

I love Baha but to me that is a girls name as I know a lovely (Arab) girl with that name.

Asher - I only know of it used by Jewish friends - to me it seems 'very' Jewish if you know what I mean. Its a great name though. That is my concern about asa, especially as it stems from the same roots. But from opinions on here that isn't really the general view so it's still on the list!

mad no DS has an M in the middle but close. Still think it sounds great with Asa. Or Otis for that matter.

I'm now on the hunt for boys names that end in O. Pablo is out I think, Arlo I like but can't use for various reasons. Any others? Might need to start a new thread for this one...

OP posts:

MadIsTheNewNormal · 30/01/2014 03:31

The only Asa I have ever known is a 50 year old guy of Indian-ish origin, so I was unaware of any Hebrew connection. I'm thinking your DS1's name has an AF in the middle? In which case Asa would go with it really well.

AveryJessup · 30/01/2014 03:02

What about Asher ? It is Old Testament with the same roots as Asa I think. It's becoming popular here in the US at the moment. Never heard of it until a friend called her son Asher and I have grown to like it now.

FlipFantasia · 30/01/2014 02:39

Just to chime in, are you pronouncing Asa 'Acer'? - if so that is a really English way of saying it (eg Emma as 'Emmar') and not at all like the one male Asa I know. I live in the US.

When I lived in London I knew two little girls called Asa (one with a Swedish mother so pronounced more like 'O-sa', one like 'acer'). Also, all of the Isas I've ever met are female & Spanish/Latin American (as a nn for Isabelle).

I have an Arab Christian friend called Baha, which I think is a lovely name (helps that he is so nice!).

Lovely names on your list though and I hope you find one you love!

shmuf · 30/01/2014 01:15

Fwiw to u asa as a hebrew name is pronounced ass-ah, and its not really so common,the only ones I know are secular israelis..

Jolay100 · 28/01/2014 14:00

I like Zaki as suggested above. A friend of mine also has a Hari, but I think that's more Indian than Middle eastern.

Sharaluck · 27/01/2014 22:23

I know a Christian (Lebanese?) origin boy called Jad.

Also while reading your posts Ari popped into my head.

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