Is it wrong to use a name that has roots in Arabic/Hebrew

[NorthernRunner]

...when you are from the NE England and your husband is from NW?

We both really like Nouri and there are sentimental reasons why we like this name. Would it be ok to use?

Kennehora thank you for your articulate post.
Yes you are right my thread title isn’t very clear.

My husband and I have spoken and it’s ruled out sadly. It would have been really special to use it, but as baby will be a white boy, living in a predominantly white community, it feels wrong to use a name that’s still used in Muslim culture.

I’m not out to offend or to be apart of the problem that is cultural appropriation. I knew when my husband and I were discussing this last night that despite our sentimental reasons why we love the name, we would be doing something wrong.

It’s been really interesting to see others opinions, and whilst it’s positive lots of people don’t see the harm, I do think as a white person, I need to be a bit responsible here. I don’t think I have worded that correctly at all, sorry for rambling

Please do not think yourself guilty of cultural appropriation for using this beautiful name. I belong to one of the cultures you mentioned and do not feel you are doing anything wrong by using the name. Make sure your dd understands the meaning of her name, where it comes from and in whose honour she is named.

Appreciating a different culture and integrating aspects of it into your life is not CA.

CA is taking over something from smother culture, separating it from its context and telling everyone how it should be used or interpreted according to you.

Willing to bet that lots of people hissing at 'cultural appropriation' eat houmous, pronounce it with an 'h' and 'ooo', and would insist that it should only be eaten cold.

smother - autocorrect for 'another'.

@NorthernRunner will you still use the name as a middle name? That would still be a lovely tribute to your friend.

How is it nasty, when I have had it happen to me? I have been told by English people (and I use that term deliberately, as I am a British Citizen, but am not English) how to pronounce houmous and how to eat it. 'Houmous', a word in my mother tongue, and a food which my mum used to make from scratch at home, as Sainsbury didn't stock it in the 70s.

I don't consider it cultural appropriation when people eat 'hoomoos' on a bacon bap. That's their way of enjoying it.

And also wrong, because as far as I can see, most of the people expressing concerns are from minority ethnic groups (some from the specific cultures that @NorthernRunner mentioned).

Read my post:
I belong to one of the cultures you mentioned

James was (and probably still will be the middle name) so we will either have two mns or try and find something similar sounding for the first name.

It’s been a really interesting discussion so once again thank you to all who have replied.
I definitely feel wiser for it!

Would you consider a name with a similar meaning - perhaps Lucian?

I have been googling all morning boys names similar to Nouri!!

I’m not a fan of lucien/Lucas/Luca/lux
We actually have two friends with sons who are Luka and Lucas so even if they were to our taste we couldn’t use them.

Boys names are very hard!!

Abner - combines words for father (ab) and light (ner).

Harry - anglicised version of Japanese 'haru', meaning light.

I like Harry but DH doesn’t!!
Abner is an interesting one...

.I suppose my worry is that being white I am not a minority.
White Caucasians ARE the minority race in the world though maybe not in the uk.

Naming a child after someone you love and respect is the greatest compliment whatever their culture and I think the very best way to choose a name.

Reading through the thread, and having it as a middle (even second middle) name would be a lovely way of remembering your friend xx