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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is it wrong to use a name that has roots in Arabic/Hebrew

64 replies

NorthernRunner · 16/05/2019 21:03

...when you are from the NE England and your husband is from NW?

We both really like Nouri and there are sentimental reasons why we like this name. Would it be ok to use?

OP posts:
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starkid · 17/05/2019 15:40

Reading through the thread, and having it as a middle (even second middle) name would be a lovely way of remembering your friend xx

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 17/05/2019 15:01

.I suppose my worry is that being white I am not a minority.
White Caucasians ARE the minority race in the world though maybe not in the uk.

Naming a child after someone you love and respect is the greatest compliment whatever their culture and I think the very best way to choose a name.

Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 14:44

I like Harry but DH doesn’t!!
Abner is an interesting one...

OP posts:
CottonToes · 17/05/2019 14:38

Abner - combines words for father (ab) and light (ner).

Harry - anglicised version of Japanese 'haru', meaning light.

Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 14:23

I have been googling all morning boys names similar to Nouri!!

I’m not a fan of lucien/Lucas/Luca/lux
We actually have two friends with sons who are Luka and Lucas so even if they were to our taste we couldn’t use them.

Boys names are very hard!!

OP posts:
ThanksItHasPockets · 17/05/2019 14:19

Would you consider a name with a similar meaning - perhaps Lucian?

Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 14:08

James was (and probably still will be the middle name) so we will either have two mns or try and find something similar sounding for the first name.

It’s been a really interesting discussion so once again thank you to all who have replied.
I definitely feel wiser for it!

OP posts:
CottonToes · 17/05/2019 14:03

And also wrong, because as far as I can see, most of the people expressing concerns are from minority ethnic groups (some from the specific cultures that @NorthernRunner mentioned).

Read my post:
I belong to one of the cultures you mentioned

CottonToes · 17/05/2019 14:00

How is it nasty, when I have had it happen to me? I have been told by English people (and I use that term deliberately, as I am a British Citizen, but am not English) how to pronounce houmous and how to eat it. 'Houmous', a word in my mother tongue, and a food which my mum used to make from scratch at home, as Sainsbury didn't stock it in the 70s.

I don't consider it cultural appropriation when people eat 'hoomoos' on a bacon bap. That's their way of enjoying it.

SingingSands · 17/05/2019 14:00

@NorthernRunner will you still use the name as a middle name? That would still be a lovely tribute to your friend.

Kennehora · 17/05/2019 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CottonToes · 17/05/2019 13:23

smother - autocorrect for 'another'.

CottonToes · 17/05/2019 13:22

Please do not think yourself guilty of cultural appropriation for using this beautiful name. I belong to one of the cultures you mentioned and do not feel you are doing anything wrong by using the name. Make sure your dd understands the meaning of her name, where it comes from and in whose honour she is named.

Appreciating a different culture and integrating aspects of it into your life is not CA.

CA is taking over something from smother culture, separating it from its context and telling everyone how it should be used or interpreted according to you.

Willing to bet that lots of people hissing at 'cultural appropriation' eat houmous, pronounce it with an 'h' and 'ooo', and would insist that it should only be eaten cold. Hmm

Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 13:13

Kennehora thank you for your articulate post.
Yes you are right my thread title isn’t very clear.

My husband and I have spoken and it’s ruled out sadly. It would have been really special to use it, but as baby will be a white boy, living in a predominantly white community, it feels wrong to use a name that’s still used in Muslim culture.

I’m not out to offend or to be apart of the problem that is cultural appropriation. I knew when my husband and I were discussing this last night that despite our sentimental reasons why we love the name, we would be doing something wrong.

It’s been really interesting to see others opinions, and whilst it’s positive lots of people don’t see the harm, I do think as a white person, I need to be a bit responsible here. I don’t think I have worded that correctly at all, sorry for rambling

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 17/05/2019 12:59

majorly majority

NameChange30 · 17/05/2019 12:59

Totally agree with Kennehora in that it depends very much on the name.

"I’m Indian and want to use a fairly bog standard English name if I have a boy. Nobody on MN would accuse me of cultural appropriation. In fact I suspect a fair few would love that I’m embracing British culture. I see it as no different for you OP."

Actually it is different because you are an Indian person living in the UK and using a common English name.
The equivalent for the OP (who is white British) would be if she lived in a majorly Arabic-speaking, Muslim country, and she decided to give her son a name that was common there.
In which case it would make more sense.

Kennehora · 17/05/2019 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sashh · 17/05/2019 12:11

If you look in to the origin of names loads are Hebrew in origi9n because people used names from the bible.

It's a lovely name and Britain is becoming ever more multicultural.

firawla · 17/05/2019 12:04

Boy not bit sorry autocorrect

motortroll · 17/05/2019 12:03

My girl is Esther which is a religious bane and common in the Jewish culture.

We're not religious in any way, I just loved the name!

firawla · 17/05/2019 12:03

My dd is a very similar name - Noora. I’m Irish originally and dh Asian but as we’re Muslim all the dc have Arabic names. I actually think Noor / Noora / Nouri is a bit of a cultural cross over name because you do get Norah like the welsh singer, I have Irish relatives Noreen and so on.. they’re all variants of the same name and even Eleanor has the same meaning because of the “nor” part doesn’t it?? But obviously all of those are girls names, and maybe it would stand out more on a bit. I wouldn’t say you have to definitely rule it out though? It is a beautiful name! Maybe you could at least put it in as an extra middle name if you weren’t sure??

Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 11:57

We have 11weeks, roughly until baby boy arrives so we have time to mull it over.
I really do appreciate everyone’s input though, it’s definitely food for thought!

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthernRunner · 17/05/2019 11:56

Teddy, that’s interesting...I suppose my worry is that being white I am not a minority.

OP posts:
Teddybear45 · 17/05/2019 11:53

I’m Indian and want to use a fairly bog standard English name if I have a boy. Nobody on MN would accuse me of cultural appropriation. In fact I suspect a fair few would love that I’m embracing British culture. I see it as no different for you OP. If you like Nour for a boy use it.

RiversDisguise · 17/05/2019 11:50

Northern....it's a beautiful name.

My youngest has a name not from our culture. Suits her and she loves learning the language now.

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