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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Are these names very strange/awful?

22 replies

lovemybabyboy · 03/10/2011 16:33

I am 37+2 with DC2, DH is from Gambia and I agreed for this baby to have a Gambian or Muslim name (he is muslim). Our DS has Muslim middle name which DHs family call him by, but everyone else calls him by his non muslim first name...anyway it works fine but still would like this baby to be called the same name by everyone.

We have picked 'Haddy' for a girl which is MILs name and 'Una' as the middle name after my mum.

For a boy we are still undecided but he really wants to name a boy after his dad who is called 'Foday'.
We havn't got a middle name for a boy but I like Malik and he likes Tijan.

What does everyone think of these names? Are they very strange? Are they awful? I am happy with the girl name but not really with the boy name!

Would love to hear your opinions :)

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BikeRunSki · 03/10/2011 16:38

I rather like Haddy, not sure about Foday. Middle names all ok. I think Foday doesn't sound muslim enough not to sound made up, iyswim.

MelinaM · 03/10/2011 16:39

Is Haddy short for anything? I ask as it looks like a nn.
I'm not keen on Foday I'm afraid, Malik and Tijan are perfectly nice. Why not use Foday as the mn instead?

Meteorite · 03/10/2011 16:42

Haddy is too similar to haddock. Una is quite nice, and I like Malik.

MelinaM · 03/10/2011 16:43

I forgot to say I love Una too

Hullygully · 03/10/2011 16:45

I like Tijan.

Foday isn't great

DesertOrchid · 03/10/2011 16:54

I like Haddy - is there a significance to the spelling as it would be nicer as Haddie. Either way, is cute but will grow nicely.

Foday I am not so keen on, I'm afraid. I'd suggest a compromise with his Dad's name and your favoured choice and go for Malik Foday.

oohlaalaa · 03/10/2011 17:14

Not keen on Foday sorry. I prefer Foday as a second name.

RitaMorgan · 03/10/2011 17:17

Not keen on Foday.

Haddy is really cute though, and I like both Tijan and Malik - Malik is maybe more common/known here.

Original poster

lovemybabyboy · 03/10/2011 17:51

Thank you all.

I am also not keen on Foday but would be happy to use it as a middle name.
I just thought maybe I should just let him have that name as he doesnt seem to be 100% happy with anything else! He had been suggesting Tijan Foday but am worried that it would end up with all his family just calling baby Foday anyway....as they do with my DS

I probably should add that it is part of his culture that everyone is called after someone, they have a naming ceremony at 7 days where they say for eg. the baby is called Foday named after his grandad Foday etc. so that is why they all call my DS by his muslim name as he is called after DHs uncle...the compromise there was for a name i liked as the first name and the other name which at the time i didnt like as the middle name...I have gotten used to it now!

Haddy is how the name is always spelt in gambia...Haddie is nice but am used to the 'y' spelling. It is short for 'Haddijatou' which comes from the Muslim name 'Khadijah' it must have changed over time etc. but it is also commonly just used in the short version of 'Haddy' and sometimes 'Kaddy' as they also use the name 'Kaddijatou'.

I keep trying to discuss the name with DH but I think he is so stressed now that he just keeps saying 'I dont know yet'! I think he feels pressured into using the name Foday as his dad asked him to!! and it is a big honour if your son calls there child after you etc.

Im starting to really hope the baby is a girl...just for the fact that we have a name already!! hahaha!!

OP posts:

RickGhastley · 03/10/2011 17:54

I like all the names you mention apart from Foday.

minipie · 03/10/2011 18:04

Would you consider spelling it Haddi rather than Haddy? Somehow it looks better to me and less haddocky.

I like Tijan and Malik a lot. Foday not so much, it's not awful though. Maybe as a middle name...

sparkle12mar08 · 03/10/2011 20:07

Tijan is awful sorry, but Malik is lovely, really nice. Malik Foday Lastname sounds nice and strong, I like it a lot..

Meteorite · 03/10/2011 20:10

Kaddy is nicer than Haddy IMHO.

seren82 · 03/10/2011 20:12

I love the name Khadijah - I used to teach a Khadijat too, although she was Nigerian so perhaps that's not an option for you. I would use Malik Foday for the boy, although it sounds as if the family will call him Foday no matter what...

Ayoop · 03/10/2011 22:01

Malik is lovely.

Haddy is sweet, but could you call her Khadijah (beautiful name) and use Haddy as a nickname or pet name?

ShoutyHamster · 04/10/2011 10:21

Would it be better if the middle names were the ones after your inlaws?

I can see that if the plan for a girl is to have MIL name it's a bit harsh for FIL to only have the honour of the middle name after him.

So:

Una Haddy Lastname

Malik Foday Lastname (or a different non-Muslim first name so all the children are 'equal')

(Tijan is awful, sorry - sounds like a restaurant).

I think it's a bit off for your FIL to have asked your DH to name the baby after him. No wonder he is stressed. It's not really on, the baby isn't just your DHs to name either!

I'd put my foot down and say that you're keeping the pattern of having the Muslim middle name, though if it's a boy you might also have Malik anyway.

If they already call your first son by his middle name, maybe that will end up as just the pattern that's set - child is called by their Muslim name by that side of the family. Do you see them often? It'll just be their little quirk if not - once your child is grown up with their own personality, they'll be answering to the name THEY choose!

fraktious · 04/10/2011 10:29

I like Malik. Khadijah is lovely too.

Foday is too uncommon for a child not to be teased.

The middle name compromise is nice - you can still have a Muslim first name but just not a family one.

Theas18 · 05/10/2011 11:55

Can I just say that opinions in th e UK on "ethnic" names are probably very dependent on where you live.

I live in a city and the kids go to very multicultural schools. None of these names would raise an eyebrow.

the only boy who has been teased for his name in DS class is the unfortunate Fateh who indeed does have weight issues and Idris Mohammed who it always said wants to play rugby for Wales as he is bl**dy good! (I now know Idris is a muslim as well as a welsh name!).

allieballiebee · 05/10/2011 19:03

When I was growing up there was a boy (muslim) called Haddy, everyone called him Haddock! Just thought I'd mention it, also I lived in a v multi-cultural area and we were used to lots of diff (esp muslim) names.

Scathac · 05/10/2011 19:58

Haddy is Scots for haddock (e.g. Finan haddy) so would not dream of using that!! Foday is too made up sounding. All the other names sound lovely, esp. like Malik, which has a really traditional ring to it.

catsareevil · 05/10/2011 20:05

I dont think any of those names would raise eyebrows where I live either.

mathanxiety · 06/10/2011 16:46

I would use Khadijah instead of Haddy, and let the family call her Haddy as a nn but have Khadijah as a formal name for school.

Foday sounds fine to my ears, though I am surrounded by names from all over. I don't see anything wrong with it actually it's a pleasant sound imo and I think the family connection and naming tradition are strong enough that there is a solid argument for using it.

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