What do you think when you hear these baby names?

[Ohcordelia]

Sami

Rayan

Aydin

Nura

Kamila

Aayah

Amila

Deen

do any of them jump out to you as ick, chavvy or younique?

yes they are all Muslims names. I’m Muslim. They are names on my baby name list, we want Muslim names that have nice meanings but aren’t too too common in our community and not too alienating for life in the Uk. The spellings are the closest transliteration to the Arabic

All very nice except Deen to my ear.

Hmm, I don’t think so, but it’s more that it’s slightly awkward than I don’t like it. Also (random thought) I think Arya on GOT used to be said Aye-uh until about season 3 when she changed it because she didn’t like it. I think she was right..

OOH

GO FOR THIS

It’s lovely.

And also it’s easy to know how it’s said, but it doesn’t feel like it it’s an alternative spelling of an English name like Kamila or Aydin - I am not saying I think this is a problem, but it seems to bother you.

I also love Maryam

for boys

Rohaan - it’s lovely

Daniyal - he’s going to be known as Dan day to day anyway

But it was always written Arya

I'm Muslim. Rayan is definitely more girly to me.

I like Ayah (I pronounce it EYE-a). To avoid the similarity to 'Indian nanny' you could pluralise it to Ayaat maybe? So meaning would be 'signs from God.'

How about Safiya?

If you live in a multi racial city I don't think you need to worry too much about people finding the names strange. Teachers will be familiar, and kids will get used to it. Even in less diverse areas, people must get over it.

Deen on its own feels unfinished. I'd expect Salah-ud-deen or Sayf-ud-deen etc. shortened to whatever the first part is.

There are lots of Milas, Amila sounds quite similar. It's at the bottom of your list for me.

I've never heard of Aydin. How about Ayman?

Rayan is definitely a boys name too.

i just feel very awkward about making it ayaat (I don’t like that for a person as it’s plural) as in our faith it means sign, so I don’t feel like I should have to change it to bow to south Asian culture, why should that meaning trump ours?

deen means creed by itself, but tbh I’m not very fond of the name in all honestly.

Ayman is nice too, it’s pronounced like the Irish name isn’t it

Sami

Nura

Kamila

Amila

Are beautiful name but I think Amila is my favourite, your child will forever be spelling Kamila out to people who think its Camilla - might be something to consider!

all but Amila aren’t too my taste. I don’t mind Aayah but do you pronounce Ai yah or ay yah? And Amila would you pronounce as Amelia or A miller?

@YourLocal , Aayah is Ah-yah (like English Are ya with a non-rhotic accent)
Amila and Kamila rhyme with Camilla (but could rhyme with Ameela too, it depends on the Arabic spelling)

Rayan is definitely a boys name too.

I meant personally I prefer it for girls.

I just feel very awkward about making it ayaat (I don’t like that for a person as it’s plural) as in our faith it means sign, so I don’t feel like I should have to change it to bow to south Asian culture, why should that meaning trump ours?

Because the word has crossed over into the English language and you were concerned how people here would view your list of names. But like I said, your baby's peers will soon get used to whatever name you choose. I think Ayah is beautiful. I mentioned Ayaat just as an option you may not have thought of, since people do use plural forms for names too e.g. Layla (night) Layali (nights), Amal (hope) Amaal (hopes).

Ayman is nice too, it’s pronounced like the Irish name isn’t it

I pronounce it Eh-man but I've heard some accents say Eye-man.

Do you like Idris? Similar to the Welsh name.

It’s such a shame but I don’t like idris… I don’t know why. Quite like Elias though

Zaki?

I thought some of them sounded Muslim.
That's it, I struggle to have an opinion beyond that.

Rayan is a synthetic fabric, no? Maybe not that one.
Kamila Harris is cool.

Think it’s rayon that’s the fabric

Sami
Kamila

I like most of them and don't think they'll appear strange in the UK. How about Nayla?