I hate DH's names....

[pinkspeckle]

DH is adamant that baby is going to be called Khadijah for a girl or Yusuf for a boy. I absolutely hate the names!! I think they're too old fashioned!!

DH is Muslim, I'm a Christian. I think we should think of names that match both religions/cultures.

My favorites are Isaac, Zachariah, Jacob for a boy and Jasmine, Sarinah, Aaliyah for a girl.

WWYD?

Btw, I like Yusuf but I can't stand Khadijah! No offense to all the perfectly lovely Khadijah's out there, but I was in class with a Khadijah who I really didn't like when I was 12. We always got paired together for stuff because of surnames and spent the whole year sniping at each other. Whenever I hear that name I always think of THAT Khadijah!

I know a few little Yusufs so to be fair I don't think it's that old fashioned. I've never come across a Khadijah though, and I teach in a Muslim country.

Names that seem to be used regularly where I am include Saif, Abdullah, Omar/Omeir. I love Saif, it's such a cool name. There are several little girls I know of who have been born recently named Luluah, which I think is beautiful, and I know a few Alias.

Can you ask your husband to write a list of names he likes, and then you do the same and look for crossover? Or each go through a list (e.g. One you found online) and highlight ones you love in one colour and ones you like in another - then look for similarities?

Most of the Khadijahs I have met are from Pakistani origin, I've only met one who was Arabic (the one I sat next to!). Perhaps it's a more common name in Pakistan / Pakistani communities than in other Islamic countries / communities?

I really like Yusuf, so I agree that you should say father chooses the boy's name, mother the girl's name.

If your child is going to be raised in the UK they should at least have a name that they're not going to have to spell out every time. Stand your ground OP. This is just the first of many decisions that your DH and his family will try to pressure you into seeing things their way.

You need to both be happy with the chosen names, so stand your ground if you know you would regret it.

He needs to be more democratic here and less presumptuous and dictatorial.

Keep going until you come up with names that you can both accept. Reinforce to him that it is a big decision, and not one you want to risk either of you having regrets over, as that could well cause resentment.

Are there any reasons that you know of why he seems so invested in those particular names?