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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Names that remind you of Dubai/Middle East

70 replies

FreshCop · 29/10/2022 22:06

Sister is preg with twins and wants a name that will be a reminder of living in Dubai (currently she's a teacher at a school there)

Any suggestions?

So far she has taken a liking to Noor/Noora which means moonlight and for a boy Faris.

OP posts:

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Original poster

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 21:14

People are beheaded in dubai?

OP posts:

BiscuitLover3678 · 30/10/2022 20:58

Pearl or Noora/Norah/Nora for a girl works really well as is cross cultural whilst also being a nod to where they were from.

I really like Riyadh for a boy!

And yes there are some serious issues with Dubai but there are also millions of people who live there - including the people who are beheaded. A country is more than its leaders:

mizu · 30/10/2022 20:46

Yasmin
Hanna
Leila
Alma
Sarah
Reem
Nour
Sophia
Samira
Lena

There are so many lovely names

Zayn
Yahya
Omar
Rami

JennyForeigner · 30/10/2022 20:37

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 19:09

@JennyForeigner i just googled it, it means gold, how lovely.

I know the UAE has a big history of pearl diving and it’s very special in their culture however the name for that is Lulu and Lulwa which I don’t think would work very well in the UK. Lulu doesn’t seems like a “full” name to me but a nickname.

Perhaps they should consider Pearl? Subtle but beautiful.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/10/2022 19:49

@TTCBBY3 Personally I agree with you-

SunsetGun · 30/10/2022 19:47

Maya
Yasmin
Reem
Miriam
Leena

Crikeyalmighty · 30/10/2022 19:37

Are they Muslim or from the UAE OP- ?

Original poster

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 19:09

@JennyForeigner i just googled it, it means gold, how lovely.

OP posts:

JennyForeigner · 30/10/2022 19:04

FreshCop · 29/10/2022 22:39

How about Loujain after the heroic Saudi activist?

Ideally something that will be easier for everyone to pronounce. I'm presuming you say that name “Lou-Jane” ?? Which is pretty

Yes, pretty much. The 'j' is more of a zj sound, but Lou-Jane isn't far off.

And the Saudi government would hate it, so even better.

Lozzybear · 30/10/2022 18:58

I know a Dutch last called Noor. Apparently it’s the Dutch diminutive of Eleonore (Eleanor).

emmathedilemma · 30/10/2022 18:53

Alexander nn Sandy

TTCBBY3 · 30/10/2022 18:50

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 14:28

Is Noor not appropriate for a British child or how about Amira which I’ve heard quite a lot recently?

Perhaps Amira but Noor is very Arabic

TomTraubertsBlues · 30/10/2022 18:09

I suppose many names cross cultures these days

They do, but it only really works/makes sense when the child has a parent or other family connection from the culture their name relates to.

Soubriquet · 30/10/2022 18:03

Priya

Dreamingcats · 30/10/2022 18:00

Joaina.
I love Noor too.

Karim.

MrsOrMiss · 30/10/2022 17:45

Sidiqi - Almost everyone had their own 'recipe' for Sid 😉
Ibrihim
Ishtan

Shia
Amoura
Maryam
Latifa

Original poster

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 17:35

we all live in the Middle East I’ve no idea why your sister would want to do this and I’ll admit to raising my eyebrows a bit when I come across people who’ve done this.

it was thought of in a respectful way and I suppose many names cross cultures these days, kids are called all sorts now.

for example “jasmine” “laila” and “aisha” works across the board here.

OP posts:

sopeas · 30/10/2022 15:41

Aisha
Zara
Nasreen
Amira
Farah
Aaliyah
Amina
Mina

Abdal
Adnan
Amal
Malik
Omar
Amir
Ali
Samir

MrsTumblebee · 30/10/2022 14:41

Speaking as someone with Arab Muslim children and grandchildren, we all live in the Middle East I’ve no idea why your sister would want to do this and I’ll admit to raising my eyebrows a bit when I come across people who’ve done this.

Perhaps look for Biblical names instead.

Original poster

FreshCop · 30/10/2022 14:28

Is Noor not appropriate for a British child or how about Amira which I’ve heard quite a lot recently?

OP posts:

TTCBBY3 · 30/10/2022 08:24

My first son was born in Dubai and I agree with a PP that giving a baby an Arabic / Emirati name if they're not Arabic and won't be living there long time, seems like it will bring some unnecessary questions later on in life. We had the exact same discussion when pregnant and decided to give our first son the middle name Saif, as it was the name of a very good local friend of ours and we always said we loved the name. We now live back in the UK and get lots of compliments on his name, but definitely made the right choice by giving him a first name appropriate to our culture.

ConnieSaks · 30/10/2022 08:10

@EstellaRijnveld yes a prophet and the son of Maryam. It’s definitely a good name to remind one of the ME!

Hawkins001 · 30/10/2022 07:21

Marco polo
Genghis Khan

EstellaRijnveld · 30/10/2022 07:13

ConnieSaks · 29/10/2022 23:40

Eisa, Shafiq & Shadi. I also like Amir.

Eisa is the Islamic equivalent of Jesus

JardinsduBasil · 30/10/2022 07:13

We're in a Muslim majority country (not the emirates though) and popular cross cultural names at school are:

Boys:

Adam
Aram
Elias/Ilias
Skander (love this one)
Joud/Jude
Gabriel
Zayn

Girls:
Mariyam/Miryam/Mariam (I think every second small girl here is Mariyam)
Ellyn
Ayla
Beya
Mayar
Leila
Sarra

Unless they are from the UAE it needs to work cross culturally or it's a bit odd.

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