Safiya - girl name

[Elambert83]

Hi

I am liking the name Safiya (pronounced Sah-fee-ya.

What are peoples thoughts?

One of my Dc’s had a Safiya in the class. An African Caribbean child and not Muslim / Arabic

Since no one knew it was an Arabic name no one barred an eyelid.

And anyway loads of Arabic / Muslim names are now assimilated, as well as Hindu, Hebrew, etc.

Good name.

It's not an objection though... it's just an assumption that you would be Muslim

Look up "can a baby name be cultural appropriation?" OP if you would like to see the more nuanced aspects of naming a baby outside of your culture.

@Elambert83

I wouldn't have Sophia as I have 2 nieces called Sophie. I might be being stupid but I don't get what the problem is with using other culture names. I will bear it in mind but surely the objections have to be backed up with more than that...

The problem is to do with cultural appropriation. Some names from other cultures are fully assimilated but others aren’t. It’s a complex argument.

Makes me think of Safiya Nygaard - she is the only Safiya I have heard of.

I like the name, be aware it might be misheard as Sophia sometimes.

It's pretty but she will be asked if she is muslim, and it will be mixed up with Sophia

I quite like it, but it sounds so much like Sophia..
If you like it, that's all that matters. And keep Karen as a middle name. Don't change it.

I like it and don't see a problem with a name from another culture, especially as you will be pronouncing it as it is supposed to be pronounced.
Definitely don't change her middle name from Karen because it's not popular now. If you're naming in honour of someone then you use their actual name!

Why is it cultural appropriation?

Cultural appropriation involves the reinforcing of stereotypes, a conflict with the intended use of the thing and takes credit or compensation from the original creators.

The OP is doing none of the above. She just likes the name!

The only downside to the name is that initially people may mistakenly associate the child with being a muslim. That is generally not perceived to be a positive thing these days.

Pretty name

It's very pretty! I'd initially assumed it was a different spelling of 'Sapphire' when I read the thread title, and would have pronounced it that way - but that's my ignorance of the name's origins, very interesting now that I know more!

It's gorgeous! Definitely use it. Sounds lovely with Karen too. It's absolutely not cultural appropriation, other posters are seriously over thinking it. I wouldn't assume anything of the child's heritage. I would put it on my list for if I have another daughter but it's way too similar to my existing daughter name.. shame!

@Flittingaboutagain

Look up "can a baby name be cultural appropriation?" OP if you would like to see the more nuanced aspects of naming a baby outside of your culture.

I've had a Google. Thanks I hadn't thought of this before so am glad I have.

@miltonj

It's gorgeous! Definitely use it. Sounds lovely with Karen too. It's absolutely not cultural appropriation, other posters are seriously over thinking it. I wouldn't assume anything of the child's heritage. I would put it on my list for if I have another daughter but it's way too similar to my existing daughter name.. shame!

It’s not “absolutely not cultural appropriation”. It could be. You’re under-thinking it. It just needs more thought. I’m not sure either way on this one.

I didn't want to cause problems, I simply like the name. Having read up now I don't believe that its cultural appropriation either.
Names come from all over the world and from different cultures so unsure why its so sensitive to people regarding muslim names. It is not a name of Allah etc to ensure that it was not a sacred god etc as id understand that.

I like names also of Greek, Norse, Japanese origin etc.

@Elambert83

I didn't want to cause problems, I simply like the name. Having read up now I don't believe that its cultural appropriation either. Names come from all over the world and from different cultures so unsure why its so sensitive to people regarding muslim names. It is not a name of Allah etc to ensure that it was not a sacred god etc as id understand that.

I like names also of Greek, Norse, Japanese origin etc.

I wouldn't worry OP, a few Muslims (including me) have responded to your thread and none of us accused you of cultural appropriation. One PP mentioned the 'assimiliation' of names - how would a name become 'assimilated' in the first place if people didn't use it?! I think it's absolutely fine. In my life I've met a few people with Arabic/traditionally Muslim names who were not Muslim, sometimes this is because one parent was from a Muslim background but this was often the NRP that they had little if any relationship with, or sometimes their parents just liked the name. It's not super unusual and I've never known a Muslim to be bothered about it. In fact personally I quite like it as it means me/friends/family etc if our names become more popular we are 'othered' less by them.

Also for additional context, in Islamic history Safiya was the name of one of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)'s wives, and she was Jewish, not Muslim anyway.

People use names like Rachel when they aren’t Jewish

Safiya is a pretty name. I like it

Thought it was pronounced like Sapphire to begin with though

It's a muslim name. So she might regularly be mistaken for being a muslim

@Elambert83

I wouldn't have Sophia as I have 2 nieces called Sophie. I might be being stupid but I don't get what the problem is with using other culture names. I will bear it in mind but surely the objections have to be backed up with more than that...

I have no objections to you using it at all. It would just seem weird because it's a very very muslim name. For me personally I associate it with elderly ladies. Similarly to other cultures names go in and out of fashion. So most of the people I know with this name are over 50.

Lovely!

There was a famous lady who gave birth recently who called her daughter Saphaia. Not sure how it's pronounced 😳 but could be a non-Muslim alternative?

I like it. Makes me think of Safiya Nygaard , the youtuber that others have mentioned.

Her father is Danish and her Mother is Indian I believe.

As a Muslim, I will echo what other Muslim posters have said above - lovely name, go for it:)

It's lovely but doesn't go with Karen IMO sorry. Then again middle names are rarely used or even known of by anyone that isn't immediate family so if it means a lot then go for it.