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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think when you hear these baby names?

116 replies

Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 19:56

Sami

Rayan

Aydin

Nura

Kamila

Aayah

Amila

Deen

do any of them jump out to you as ick, chavvy or younique?

yes they are all Muslims names. I’m Muslim. They are names on my baby name list, we want Muslim names that have nice meanings but aren’t too too common in our community and not too alienating for life in the Uk. The spellings are the closest transliteration to the Arabic

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Doublebiscuit77 · 12/12/2023 14:05

Hania is a really lovely name. I actually think Aida and Naïma are both usable too. I'd think of the Verdi opera for Aida and i think there was an America's Next Top Model contestant called Naïma. Which both give, i think, correct pronunciations - but anyway you'd only have to correct people once? (But my vote would go to Hania. Or Nura.)

GladioliandSweetPeas · 12/12/2023 13:10

A family near me have a girl named Navanya

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2023 10:50

amila isn’t Ameela is a-mil-a that short i sound again
I think it would get Ameela/Amelia a lot.

I'm not sure why Kamil says his name as Kammil. I've not seen how he writes his name in Arabic but the Arabic transcribes to Kameel.

Original poster
Ohcordelia · 12/12/2023 10:13

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2023 08:39

@Ohcordelia Nur is unisex I know
Kamila is like the male name kamil but with an a at the end But I know a Kamil Kameel and a Kamil Kammil.
Amila is actually pronounced like Kamila but without the K lol Doesn't help.

so as far as I know you can have kameela with that stretched ee should and then also kamila with a shorter i sound (like the I in igloo)
i like both, I just don’t love a double vowel in English

amila isn’t Ameela is a-mil-a that short i sound again

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 12/12/2023 08:39

@Ohcordelia Nur is unisex I know
Kamila is like the male name kamil but with an a at the end But I know a Kamil Kameel and a Kamil Kammil.
Amila is actually pronounced like Kamila but without the K lol Doesn't help.

FluffMagnet · 12/12/2023 07:01

In honesty OP, I think most people will meet you/your child before seeing the spelling and understand the spelling is not yoonique but simply from a foreign language and culture. In that sense I wouldn't worry.

Original poster
Ohcordelia · 12/12/2023 06:27

MerryMarigold · 11/12/2023 23:41

I'm not sure where you live OP, but I think anywhere in the UK is multicultural enough to recognise an Arabic name.

Personally I prefer the double vowel in Aayah as it looks more Arabic (to me, but I don't speak Arabic). I also think Kamila pronunciation should be fine now Camila Cabello has made the Spanish pronunciation (assuming same/ similar to Arabic) mainstream.

I think Aydin is quite a common name. I have a Zidan and Ilias where I work, I think they are Arabic names. I love Ilias as a name.

Don't get too obsessed by sounding 'chavvy'. None of them look it to my ear.

Oh you’d be surprised lol, the looks and comments we get

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohcordelia · 12/12/2023 06:25

ChateauDuMont · 11/12/2023 23:19

Can't you have Dean instead of Deen and Camilla instead of Kamila?

Suppose you could on Dean but that’s now off my list, likewise with Camilla but I’m essence Camilla is a different name and I don’t feel like I should white wash the names

OP posts:
EtiennePalmiere · 12/12/2023 00:00

I like Rayan and Ayah, Deen sounds a bit like a nickname. What about Dalila if that's right for you ? Hania is nice and I don't think any of these sound chavvy.

MerryMarigold · 11/12/2023 23:41

I'm not sure where you live OP, but I think anywhere in the UK is multicultural enough to recognise an Arabic name.

Personally I prefer the double vowel in Aayah as it looks more Arabic (to me, but I don't speak Arabic). I also think Kamila pronunciation should be fine now Camila Cabello has made the Spanish pronunciation (assuming same/ similar to Arabic) mainstream.

I think Aydin is quite a common name. I have a Zidan and Ilias where I work, I think they are Arabic names. I love Ilias as a name.

Don't get too obsessed by sounding 'chavvy'. None of them look it to my ear.

smilesup · 11/12/2023 23:29

Love Sami (also Samir) and Aayan (I know an Ayan). I don't like Rayaan but unfair as Aayan and Iaan were already friends with DS and then Rayan came along and it became a bit of a joke as they all rhymed! His other two mates were Joe and Moe which added to it!
Hania is gorgeous (as is Hanifa)
Really don't like Deen (or Dean)

IdaPolly · 11/12/2023 23:22

Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 23:02

Position on Haniya/ Hania?

i love it and it has a beautiful meaning but does it sound naff/ chavvy?

Very nice. Not chavvy. (Nor is Sami.)

ChateauDuMont · 11/12/2023 23:19

Can't you have Dean instead of Deen and Camilla instead of Kamila?

IdaPolly · 11/12/2023 23:17

My favourites are

Sami

Aayah

time4aNC · 11/12/2023 23:15

Haniya/Hania sounds absolutely beautiful! I’ll have to google the meaning but a great meaning is always a bonus.

To reiterate what everyone else is saying all the names you have chosen are lovely, but I don’t like Deen. I’m from Liverpool and it turns in to Deeêeen here.

I also like Aydin but people will Anglicise it to be Aidan, you need to think about if that’ll bother you or not.

10/10 for your naming taste though.

Charlieradioalphapapa · 11/12/2023 23:13

I really like Haniya/Hania. Also like Hadiya ( not sure if I have spelling right though) . Was the name of one of my neighbours daughters names and I think it’s a lovely name. Her sister was Leila which I also really like

Original poster
Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 23:02

Position on Haniya/ Hania?

i love it and it has a beautiful meaning but does it sound naff/ chavvy?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 23:01

PassMeTheCookies · 11/12/2023 22:46

I love Aayah, exactly how you pronounce it. It's very nice. I like all of the names on your list.

My friend's little girl is Aiza which I also really love. Such a pretty name, and I love its meaning, too.

I quite like aiza too and Aida (but I know people would pronounce it Ada rather than ai’ida.

i also like na’ima or Naïma but I can’t see myself using them as I think people would trip up over them

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/12/2023 23:01

Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 19:56

Sami

Rayan

Aydin

Nura

Kamila

Aayah

Amila

Deen

do any of them jump out to you as ick, chavvy or younique?

yes they are all Muslims names. I’m Muslim. They are names on my baby name list, we want Muslim names that have nice meanings but aren’t too too common in our community and not too alienating for life in the Uk. The spellings are the closest transliteration to the Arabic

Aayah is my fave

IdaPrentice · 11/12/2023 22:51

I think all of them are perfectly nice, but if you choose Rayan or Deen they'll forever be spelled/misheard as Ryan and Dean by people.

PassMeTheCookies · 11/12/2023 22:46

I love Aayah, exactly how you pronounce it. It's very nice. I like all of the names on your list.

My friend's little girl is Aiza which I also really love. Such a pretty name, and I love its meaning, too.

Original poster
Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 22:45

Doublebiscuit77 · 11/12/2023 22:40

Aidan isn't chavvy. It's an Irish name. There was a Saint Aidan - there are schools, churches, a Durham uni college etc. named after him.

I'm assuming the Muslim name Aydin is completely unrelated to Aidan, but if the pronunciation is similar, neither is chavvy!

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Yeah it’s completely unrelated, Aidan is also a Muslim name but pronounced differently again the Ai is a lot harsher ( like a more throaty sound) but Aydin is similar to the Irish Aidan but the ending is more like din rather than the dun sound of Aidan

OP posts:
Saschka · 11/12/2023 22:41

Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 20:22

It’s the double ee isn’t it… I think I agree!

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No, it’s the association with Dean! Which is up there with Darren, Kevin and Gareth, in terms of naffness.

Doublebiscuit77 · 11/12/2023 22:40

Ohcordelia · 11/12/2023 22:32

I can see what you’re saying on Dean being a bit chavvy, ‘deaaannooo’ from gavin and Stacy comes to mind

but Aidan is chavvy?

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Aidan isn't chavvy. It's an Irish name. There was a Saint Aidan - there are schools, churches, a Durham uni college etc. named after him.

I'm assuming the Muslim name Aydin is completely unrelated to Aidan, but if the pronunciation is similar, neither is chavvy!

BANANABANANABANANABANANA · 11/12/2023 22:37

The only little Aidan I know comes from a very well to do family. One parent is French, the other posh English.