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Baby names

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

Original poster

Muslim baby boy names help me chose

56 replies

Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:09

I’m expecting my third child, a boy and were stuck name wise. So pleaseeee helllpp mmmeeeee :)

we thought we gave my other children fairly easy to pronounce names that wouldn’t cause them hassle in their life (wrong no person can say them despite them being short) and I definitely don’t want to do that again, so they must be easy to pronounce and not be too overtly ‘Muslim’ (sucks because discrimination is real, and sometimes having a very ‘other’ name is a blocker) but we still want Muslim name.

our contenders are

rayan
elias
rafi

what do you prefer and why?

our extended family is so big that names like Ismail, Adam, Zakariya, Harris, kamran, Aydin, Ayman, Zaid, zain are already taken

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MiaKulper · 12/04/2026 11:35

...usually you only need to correct people once.
You end up correcting a lot of people 'only once' and quite a few more than once. @DomesticArchaeologist .

@Conundrummum123 , Rafiq? Sami is fine IMO.

Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 12/04/2026 11:27

SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 11/04/2026 23:27

Ok I would pronounce it Jamaaaal - so it wouldn’t sound like Camel. What do you mean it’s out there?

Edited
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I mean to my mind it is a very visually ‘muslim’ ‘Arab’ foreign’ name and we were looking to avoid that out of fear of discrimination (it sucks but my husband has a very Muslim name, and he ends up people constantly mispronouncing it repeatedly, searched at airports etc) I also think yeah we’d stretch the long vowel but the rest of the world wouldn’t

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Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 12/04/2026 11:22

WydeStrype · 11/04/2026 22:55

I know a little girl called Rayyan (I think that's how they spell it), is it commonly used for both sexes?

I like Rafi but guess you'd get a lot of different spellings and some assumptions it is short for eg Raphael. Depends if that worries you.

I know a little boy called Liban and really like the name.

Think it can be used for both, more common for boys though with girls typically being called raya but it is a unisex name

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thornbury · 12/04/2026 06:44

I know Rayan is unisex, I guess that doesn't bother you. I like Rafi. I know several Elias and Ilyas too. Elias will likely be pronounced E-lye-as in the English way by those who aren't familiar with the Eleeas way of saying it. Do you like Kasem?

Incorgnito · 12/04/2026 02:09

Not Elias. It'll always be pronounced wrong. I like Rayan.

SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 11/04/2026 23:27

Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:55

Sami was on our list but I think it could read as a bit chavvy juvenile and a bit like a nickname. It was on a list for our eldest boy, but a cousin also ruined it.

a lot of the others are taken..

I don’t love jamal it’s too close to jamal (camel) the long vowel at the end haha. Plus it’s very ‘out there’

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Ok I would pronounce it Jamaaaal - so it wouldn’t sound like Camel. What do you mean it’s out there?

Elopelo · 11/04/2026 23:22

I like all 3 of your names and agree that you may have to change the spelling of Elias if you want it pronounced as Ilyas.

We have these names amongst family/friends

Haroon
Hasan
Kamran (kind of like Cameron)
Ali
Dean
Qays

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Aur0raAustralis · 11/04/2026 23:16

Rafi does sound like a nickname to me but nickname type names are hugely popular and I'm probably an outlier on this. I think it's the name that works the best for what you want out of the options.

saraclara · 11/04/2026 23:14

Another vote for Rafi. It's a great (and cool) name at every stage of life, from toddler to elderly gentleman.

Contrarymary30 · 11/04/2026 23:11

Rafi sounds nice and easy to pronounce and spell .

Thesummer · 11/04/2026 23:07

I really like all 3. Rafi is my favourite. I think if you want Elias to be pronounced how you want then best to stick to Ilyas as the spelling, I don't think people will struggle with it and it's still lovely.

Rayan is lovely too but it's verrrryyyy popular at the moment amongst Hindu/Sikh cultures too, pretty much every boy I know of born in the last few years is either called Rayan or Kian. I don't believe you shouldn't use a name because of how popular it is, but thought it was worth mentioning in case it affects your decision!

notnorman · 11/04/2026 22:56

rafi is a lovely name

WydeStrype · 11/04/2026 22:55

I know a little girl called Rayyan (I think that's how they spell it), is it commonly used for both sexes?

I like Rafi but guess you'd get a lot of different spellings and some assumptions it is short for eg Raphael. Depends if that worries you.

I know a little boy called Liban and really like the name.

Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:55

SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 11/04/2026 22:49

I like Elias and Rafi. They’re just cute. Not keen on Rayan - it reminds me of Ray, which sounds like an old English man.

I also love:
Amir
Omar
Sami
Haris
Idris
Jamal

Sami was on our list but I think it could read as a bit chavvy juvenile and a bit like a nickname. It was on a list for our eldest boy, but a cousin also ruined it.

a lot of the others are taken..

I don’t love jamal it’s too close to jamal (camel) the long vowel at the end haha. Plus it’s very ‘out there’

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Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:51

Hettar · 11/04/2026 22:42

How about Daniyal?

I really really don’t like the name.
my personal opinion is that it might look like you’ve tried to be ‘kreative’ and unique with Daniel to the untrained eye

there was also a creepy guy at my uni called Danyal so it’s killed it forever for me

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SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 11/04/2026 22:49

I like Elias and Rafi. They’re just cute. Not keen on Rayan - it reminds me of Ray, which sounds like an old English man.

I also love:
Amir
Omar
Sami
Haris
Idris
Jamal

Ikeameatballs · 11/04/2026 22:47

Another vote for Rafi, love it.

DomesticArchaeologist · 11/04/2026 22:45

Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:41

But do you think people might assume or read it as the American name Elias, el-I-as rather than like the Arabic Ilyas? (I just don’t love the spelling like Ilyas think people might struggle with it)

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Where I live it sounds almost like Alias(!) but usually you only need to correct people once. Think Sara/Sarah. I know you’re trying to avoid that, but it’s still a great name.

Giftspread · 11/04/2026 22:43

Actually think all 3 are great! I would go for either Rayan or Rafi though, because there could be pronouciation differences with Elias.

Hettar · 11/04/2026 22:42

How about Daniyal?

Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:42

Giraffehaver · 11/04/2026 22:41

All beautiful names but Rafi is my favourite. Full of personality

Not too young with the I at the end? Or too much like a nickname?

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DomesticArchaeologist · 11/04/2026 22:42

Another Rafi fan!

I really like Kiyan.

I know a few Eliases, it’s a great name.

Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:41

dontforgetme · 11/04/2026 22:16

Elias is gorgeous op, love it.

But do you think people might assume or read it as the American name Elias, el-I-as rather than like the Arabic Ilyas? (I just don’t love the spelling like Ilyas think people might struggle with it)

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Giraffehaver · 11/04/2026 22:41

All beautiful names but Rafi is my favourite. Full of personality

Original poster
Conundrummum123 · 11/04/2026 22:39

Also should’ve said my hubby is really really set on Ayyub as a middle name

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