Girls name - is this too weird?

[Teapig]

We like the name Safia but is it too out there?

I know it sounds very similar to Saskia or Sofia but funnily I'm not keen on either of those.

Is it too out there?

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

my first thought is that it's the name of the beautiful woman whom Elias Cole marries after he helps the authorities to do away with her first husband Julius in Aminatta Forna's amazing novel "The Memory of Love" but I doubt many people will have read that novel

[Viviennemary]

I think it sounds quite a nice name, though I haven't heard it before. But I think that there will be a need for endless explanations about spelling and pronunciation. But there is nothing strange about it at all.

[maidmarian2012]

teapig it was pronounced Sa fee ya x

[OooShiney]

There is a Saffia at toddler group, it's really pretty name, never would have thought it odd at all.

[WeAreSix]

My DD has a Safia in her class, pronounced Saf-ee-ya. She also has a girl called Saf-e-ya (much shorter e sound) but I'm not sure how that one is spelt. There's a Sophie and a Sophia in her year group, must've been popular that year!

[monica77798]

I think Safia is quite nice - but I agree that it might produce difficulties in pronunciation.

[Teapig]

maidmarian, how did she pronounce it? Was it Safia to rhyme with mafia? That's the way I'm saying it but have heard alternatives.

[maidmarian2012]

I have an old friend called Safia. Shes lovely :)

[Flossy78]

I have a friend called Safia. I met her at Uni and no one ever had a problem pronouncing her name. We call her Saf mainly. I think it is a lovely name

[nectarini1983]

I like it. Out there's good. Who wants to blend in anyway. ....

[Teapig]

Thanks for all the really helpful comments. I still really like it. Not sure though on the spelling. There seem to be a few variations: Safia, Saffia, Safiyah and Safiya. I like the spelling Safia as it's nice and simple but I wonder if people could mistake it for a mispeslling of Sofia.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

I like the idea of Sapphira, with Safia as a nick name.

[PixelAteMyFace]

My DH has a cousin called Safia, pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable.

[TheBuskersDog]

I wouldn't bat an eyelid if I saw it on a class list, but admittedly would probably be mildly surprised when I realised the child was white European, as that isn't what I'd be expecting. It is pronounced to rhyme with raffia.

[PixelAteMyFace]

Pretty name, not too complicated - go for it if you like it.

Those who think you shouldn`t use a name from another country if you have no connection to it must find naming their children a bit problematic, as most names have crossed international boundaries these days.

Maybe my parents gave me a French name because of William the Conqueror

[mrstowers]

I know a little girl called Safia, pronounced Sa-fee-ya. Her family has no connection to the country the name orriginates from but no-one has ever commented on this. In fact everyone comments on what a lovely albeit unusual name it is. She gets called Saffy as a nn which I think is very sweet.

[wigglesrock]

When I called my daughter Sofia it caused a few "whats her name?" because of the way it was spelt but it took about 2 mins to correct people and it only happens very occasionally. It took my Mum about 100 goes to get it

Mum - whats the capital of Bulgaria? Sofia
who's the queen of Spain? Sofia
what do you call your first grandchild? Sofeyea, Sofya, oh feck I can't get it

[wigglesrock]

I think its lovely, really nice. Go with what you love, really really do.

I have a Sofia and I'm Irish

[shoppingtrolley]

Like Safiya. She might be half Indian. But mainly she is a Londoner!

[exoticfruits]

Yes -it is.

[Teapig]

shopping, out of interest how does she spell and pronounce it?

[shoppingtrolley]

Also she always gets called Saff -- which is v pretty

[shoppingtrolley]

I know someone called this never gets mixed up it's a gorgeous name!