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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please give me your gut reaction too… Alima

58 replies

Picklemom · 31/03/2014 18:00

Interested in anyone's first reaction to that name.

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Orangeisthenewbanana · 04/04/2014 00:16

Don't like it, sorry.

ChickenMe · 04/04/2014 00:11

Just cos it may or may not be from another culture does not mean it cannot be criticised. It's patronising to suggest that because it might be an Arabic name we have to fawn over it. Surely all cultures have "naff" names. There are many enchanting Arabic names to choose from.

buffythebarbieslayer · 03/04/2014 17:27

How rude to say it's made up. It's an Arabic name.

There are other countries and cultures out there you know Hmm

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 03/04/2014 17:24

Sorry!

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 03/04/2014 17:24

If dd came home from nursery and said she wanted to invite Alima to her party I'd be searching the pegs looking for Lena / Elena.

I'd then think A Lima Loser as from Glee.

DaleyBum · 03/04/2014 01:20

Makes me think of lima beans.

Original poster
Picklemom · 03/04/2014 01:18

Oh dear, now I can't shake the associations with ailments and medication.

Too bad, it's a graceful Arabic name that references multiple family member names. (That's my thing, I like using family names, but tweaking or combining them.)

OP posts:
Sharaluck · 01/04/2014 22:52

Alima bean

Innogen · 01/04/2014 15:32

A Lima Bean

BarbaraWoodlouse · 01/04/2014 11:42

I thought slimming pill too! Probably one that gives you the sharts.

Sorry Grin

isitme1 · 01/04/2014 11:39

Ive heard of a halima if that helps

squizita · 01/04/2014 11:35

"Lacks strength and sounds made up."

I see these comments on MN, and they really puzzle me having grown up in zone 2 London. Perhaps it's because since childhood (80s!) I've know Alimas and other Arabic names all the time. So to me it's completely normal.

I wonder if there's a middle-Eastern mumsnet where they say "Sophie/James/Tarquin ... sounds weak and made up."

lottiegarbanzo · 01/04/2014 11:29

Thing is, being introduced to someone with any name creates a totally different impression from looking at a name on a page.

So, in person, I'd think 'nice girl, her name's Alima'. In that context, I'd be more likely to think of other names; Alison, Selina, Amelie, Salima (is that a name? Pops up in my head) as I'd be making sure I'd distinguished it mentally, so might remember it properly.

Mefisto · 01/04/2014 11:19

The Alima I know (who is very lovely and suits the feminist/scholar definition given up thread uncannily well) pronounces it a-LEE-ma.

ArtFine · 01/04/2014 09:40

It's Arabic and it means a female scholar or someone knowledgable/expert. Wouldn't personally go for it.

lottiegarbanzo · 01/04/2014 09:38

Also Lima bean and Llama - cos Lima is the capital of Peru and Llamas live there.

lottiegarbanzo · 01/04/2014 09:37

A lemur. Lemurs are lovely.

Is it pr. a-LEE-ma or AL-i-ma?

If it's from another culture though, I'd just think 'that's a name from another culture' and immediately accept it as the child's name.

babyfedleaning · 01/04/2014 09:31

A lemur. Sorry.

sebsmummy1 · 01/04/2014 09:29

I thought it sounded gynaecological so wasn't keen, however if it is a common name outside of the UK I think it is fine.

ChickenMe · 01/04/2014 09:27

Lacks strength and sounds made up.

Tea1Sugar · 01/04/2014 07:49

A-lee-ma or Al-i-ma?

ThatOtherTime · 31/03/2014 22:56

Alamo car hire

...but it's ok, you would get used to it

BlueStarsAtNight · 31/03/2014 22:38

Makes me think of some sort of drug that helps with digestion! Don't like it at all, sorry

EirikurNoromaour · 31/03/2014 20:56

It's almost as bad as Daelyn.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 31/03/2014 19:49

I had a good friend at school called Alima, although I think her full name was Alimatu. It's a lovely name, but then again she was a lovely person so I'm biased Smile