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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boy baby name poll

61 replies

NoLA2356 · 23/11/2021 22:04

Please help me decide!! Due in 3 days
Saif - pronounced like the word safe
Laith - pronounced like layth
Basil - pronounced like bazel but with a soft “s” not like the herb

Middle and last initials will be A.M.

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Elspethelf · 25/11/2021 14:10

I work with two Saif’s and a Basil and the names suit them fine. I think I prefer Saif :)

CouncilHousedAndViolentBaby · 25/11/2021 12:02

Oh and I like Yaseen I also know one🥰

CouncilHousedAndViolentBaby · 25/11/2021 12:01

I know a Saif he's lovely so I would go for Saif

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 25/11/2021 11:07

Really like Laith

WakeUpLockie · 24/11/2021 18:31

Oh, LOVE Faisal!

WakeUpLockie · 24/11/2021 18:31

*pronounced the same as the herb 8 mean

WakeUpLockie · 24/11/2021 18:30

Ok so that is Basil spelled the same as the herb for most of the people here - this is a UK site so we don’t say Bay-zil like those in the states.

I like Laith and Basil :)

Original poster
NoLA2356 · 24/11/2021 18:28

I know it’s confusing to try to explain the pronunciation but it is like the video as “baa-zzel” but staying with the same sound and pronunciation and saying it with a soft s as baa-ssel. Rather than “bay-sel” like the herb.

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 24/11/2021 17:59

Always loved the sound/look of Laith - and I like the fact it's so multicultural (Scottish as well as Arabic).

Tiredpigeon · 24/11/2021 16:33

Definitely Laith. I know a lovely boy called Laith.

Edenember · 24/11/2021 16:25

@ColdShouldersWarmTummy that’s what I was thinking, I’m more confused than ever about the desired pronunciation. That link was the short a hard z sound like it is here. Not a soft s.

Skeumorph · 24/11/2021 16:08

Yes I like Faisal a lot! Like F names.

Skeumorph · 24/11/2021 16:07

If it helps - the ones I wouldn't go for at all are Basil, which in the UK could be seen even as a kind of old fashioned comedy name as well aas the herb, and Saif, because 'safe' is a such a highly used English word.

All the others are all lovely names really and any would be fine!

Skeumorph · 24/11/2021 16:05

Raif would be a good choice, because it's easy phonetically and similar to Rafe, which is quite international really - short for Ralph, Raphael, Rafiel, Rafferty, or just a name on its own. And it is a lovely name!

Idris is both a Muslim and Welsh name - probably not exactly 'multicultural' from the point of view of Americans though! - but also easy to say.

I like Firoz too.

ColdShouldersWarmTummy · 24/11/2021 16:02

Faris is also really nice!

ColdShouldersWarmTummy · 24/11/2021 16:01

Going by that link, the pronunciation of Basil that you want is almost exactly the same as the way the herb is pronounced in the UK.. do you maybe have a British friend who you could get to say the herb and see what you think?

(I'm assuming you live in the UK? Otherwise it obviously doesn't matter how it's pronounced here!)

I like Saif, personally Smile

Bortles · 24/11/2021 15:10

Im obsessed with the name Faisal. Something very princely about it.

LittleMysSister · 24/11/2021 14:32

Reis?

Bobsyer · 24/11/2021 14:27

I like Eyad and Yaseen. I like Rafe/Raif (I assume they’re pronounced the same) but they don’t make me think they have a Middle Eastern touch to them.

Having done a quick google search, I really like Omar and Adeem. Khalil is also nice - I know a little boy called that. I like Rami and Zayd a lot but I think you said no to Zayd.

Basil makes me think of Basil Brush and a weird kid at my primary school Grin

BoneIdleBitch · 24/11/2021 13:38

Laith is lovely

raintropics · 24/11/2021 13:36

Oh Yaseen, Raif and Rafe are nice!

Original poster
NoLA2356 · 24/11/2021 13:13

Thanks all. The only others on my short list right now are Faris (another old name, i have several family members with the name too so not super keen on it), Eyad, Waseem, Yaseen, Raif or Rafe…i’m stuck!

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 24/11/2021 13:09

Basil pronounced your way will mean he'll spend the rest of his life correcting pronunciation, which, from personal experience, is an utter PITA. It's also quite an old fashioned name like Cyril and Dennis, and has the Fawlty connection.

Laith is easy to pronounce, but obviously sounds like the machine tool

Saif - looks nice written down, although I'd wonder if it was pronounced Sah-eef.

Not much help there I'm afraid.

Original poster
NoLA2356 · 24/11/2021 13:05

Basil pronunciation in english

OP posts:
Edenember · 24/11/2021 13:04

@NoLA2356 ah ok. So short a rather than long. In that case, if you’re in the US getting the pronunciation you want might be easier as it’s completely different to how the herb is pronounced. I still think there’d be a lot of correction though.