Safiya - girl name

[Elambert83]

Hi

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

What are peoples thoughts?

Everyone will assume that your DD is Muslim, which might get very annoying for her during her lifetime to keep correcting people saying “no I’m not Muslim, no my parents are not Arab”. I wouldn’t personally want my child to go through that. I still think Safiya is quite a strong, statement Muslim name. There are other names that are more international now like Zara, Alia, Leila. A lot of Muslim girls are also called Sophia so it’s very international. I have a lot of Muslim friends who wouldn’t mind Safiya though, but they are very non-religious.

@canwetalk

Everyone will assume that your DD is Muslim, which might get very annoying for her during her lifetime to keep correcting people saying “no I’m not Muslim, no my parents are not Arab”. I wouldn’t personally want my child to go through that. I still think Safiya is quite a strong, statement Muslim name. There are other names that are more international now like Zara, Alia, Leila. A lot of Muslim girls are also called Sophia so it’s very international. I have a lot of Muslim friends who wouldn’t mind Safiya though, but they are very non-religious.

When in life are people asked "are you Muslim?" or "are your parents Arab?" I don't think anyone has ever asked me either of those things (Muslim, uncommon Muslim name, parents are not Arab). I agree people are likely to make assumptions but it's not like everywhere you go people will be straight away asking you your religion and whether you're of Arab descent

To be fair, she will probably have a very English sounding last name. So won't necessarily be assumed to be muslim? I am a muslim with a non traditional muslim name which is a bit English sounding. I remember when I was young everyone would make a fuss and try and pronounce it differently, more in line with a similar more "muslim-sounding" name. Now over 20 years later my name has become very popular and common in the muslim community.

Things change. Perceptions change. I'm sure there was a time when names like zara and aliya were considered too "foreign" or "muslim" sounding. It is simply not the case anymore is it?

People do ask those things, especially when your DD will be a bit older and at Uni. When I was at uni I was friends with a Hindu, Indian girl whose surname was Shah and she had a very secular first name, she had a lot of interest from Muslim boys who would eventually ask if she is Muslim or Pakistani, and we would find it funny because it would happen so often with her. Names do hint at your family’s beliefs, cultural origins etc 99% of the time.

I am really confused right now. She will be Safiya Karen Lambert and will be fairly pale and white.

Its an interesting debate to have but I'd like to think that we live in a multi-cultural, integrated society and that will be the casr even more so by the time she will be asked those types of questions.

@Elambert83 I totally understand where you’re coming from! I love the fact that we live in such a diverse, multi-cultural society. I just see Safiya as a name tied more to the Muslim religion than the Arabian culture, which is fine if you don’t mind the association to that religion. From what I’ve heard, a lot of converted Muslims retain their English surnames, so Safiya with an English surname may be seen as a daughter of converted Muslim parents. Just trying to put all the possibilities out there! It’s a beautiful name though and if you love it and don’t mind the associations to a particular religion, I say go for it!
I just read about the story behind Safiya in Islam on Wikipedia, it says something along the lines that her Jewish tribe was conquered by the Muslim followers of the prophet and she was taken to become his wife after that. It seems like quite a religious name to me!
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safiyya_bint_Huyayy

My goodness, to the pearl clutchers twisting themselves in a know worrying she'll be mistaken for a Muslim- so what?! Muslims are people too and they're a diverse enough religious group for names not being an issues- they wouldn't accuse you of cultural appropriation. Imagine someone having an issue with a name associated with Jews (e.g. Rachel) and using 'people will think she's Jewish' as a warning not use the name. Ridiculous.

Use the name OP, it's lovely.

In a knot*

I really like it. Taught two or three and they were all lovely girls.

@cerealgamechanger, it's not clutching at pearls, it's pointing out that it will mean a lifetime of 'Oh are you muslim?' and 'is your mum Pakistani?'type questions.

@KirstenBlest

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

I disagree. I know a couple. Neither Muslim and neither mistakenly called Sophia. They aren’t that similar in emphasis or pronunciation.

[quote KirstenBlest]@cerealgamechanger, it's not clutching at pearls, it's pointing out that it will mean a lifetime of 'Oh are you muslim?' and 'is your mum Pakistani?'type questions.[/quote]

And she'll say 'no' and move on. End of.

@soubriquet, Rachel is the anglicised form of the name, so it doesn't really compare.

I would probably change my name to Sophia if my parents named me that.. it just doesn't really make sense.

@UR88 So would I haha! I’d be so confused about it.

@KirstenBlest Totally agree. Rachel is not specifically associated to Judaism anymore.

@canwetalk, It isn't pronounced 'Raytchul' in Hebrew.

A biblical name that might compare could be Yael. It implies a jewish background. Like Safiya it is pretty.

I love the name, helped by a gorgeous wee girl i taught once. Beautiful .

@Elambert83

I am really confused right now. She will be Safiya Karen Lambert and will be fairly pale and white.

Its an interesting debate to have but I'd like to think that we live in a multi-cultural, integrated society and that will be the casr even more so by the time she will be asked those types of questions.

Lovely name! Go for it!

Laila, Zara, so many Arabic names are in common use across a mix of people.

No one in my kids’ London schools would ask any questions about a child named Safiya.

Pretty names get adopted into English all the time, no one outside of Mumsnet will care if it is associated with a different culture/religion.

* I would probably change my name to Sophia if my parents named me that.. it just doesn't really make sense.*

^I agree.

It's a lovely name. Lots of names have roots in other cultures or countries.

It's a really lovely name. All the Muslims up thread have all said go for it. If I met someone with the name

Posted too soon. If I met a Safiya I certainly wouldn't go straight to are you Muslim/Arabic/etc. I have a son with a Hebrew name. Never once been questioned on his religion.