Thoughts on Zakira and Mikael? Names for triplets!

[GentlePoet]

Hi! DH and I are having triplets, and we’re trying to figure out names. We’re Pakistani and Muslim, and I figured I should ask here to get the opinions of non Pakistanis as well since the kids are going to grow up in England and Canada.
This is our list so far:
Boys

1. Mikael (prn mih-kigh-EHL, i think mika/meeka is a cute nn)
2. Musa
3. Raees (like reese but say the beginning as if you were saying race)
4. Ismael
5. Hadi (d is a soft sound)
6. Idris
7. Rafi (raah fey)

Girls

1. Zoya
2. Nayla (nigh la)
3. Zakia (zaa key ah)
4. Layla (or Leila, not sure)
5. Nadia
6. Ayla (eye la)
7. Dua
8. Aliyah

Our daughters name is Amira, and currently for a girl we’re leaning towards Zoya or Layla/Leila, but I have a soft spot for Zakia even though I usually like softer names for girls. It’s one of the lesser known names I’d say, so I wanted to get opinions on it! For a boy Mikael is kind of non negotiable because it’s my favourite boy name ever but I know that it’s one of the harder ones to pronounce, so I was wondering if you guys found it really difficult? I figure he can go by Mick if anyone really can’t say it, but I would hate if anyone pronounced it like the English Michael. We were also thinking Musa if there are two boys, but not sure which for a third. Basically just asking for opinions on all the names!! Combinations you think sound nice, names you like/don't like etc! Also how you find Zakia and Mikael, and whether or not you can pronounce them. Thank you so much in advance!

Congratulations! I would avoid giving any of them the same initial so if you go with Mikael scratch Musa. If you go for Zakia drop Zoya etc.

My suggestion would be different letters each. Especially when small their will be a lot of labelling stuff and who’s done what, and it will be easier if all have own initial

My favourites which I think will also be easy to pronounce in England are:

Idris
Rafi

Layla
Nadia

I'm not Muslim and I would pick idris ayla and Zoya. All beautiful and they'll have less difficulties with people pronouncing or spelling names wrong.

(Although everyone will think Ayla is Isla)

Rafi also gorgeous, Raphy (Raphael) was on my boys name list

I used to know 2 boys called Mikael - spelt slightly different but pronounced the same.
I think it's a very classic sounding universal name and really nice.
One boy ended up mostly as Mickey at school but his parents were Portuguese so his mum said it as "Meeky".
I also like Idris and Rafi.
The girls names I like Zakia and Aliyah.
Triplets...... ❤️

I like your choices very much.

Amira and ..

Mikail 10/10
Rafi
Aziz

Zoya or Zakia (Do you want two Z names?)
Leila

Ideas for third girl name ..
Safa
Noor
Jasmin
Elham
Emma
Eliza
Farah
Dahlia

Mikael is very nice, I think there will be the odd mispronunciation as Michael but that’s easily corrected. Love Mika as a nn.
I also really like Raees and Rafi.

Nayla, Ayla and Layla are my favourite of your girls names - beautiful! Zakia and Nadia are nice too.

A lovely list! My faves are Mikael, Zoya, Idris and Nadia.

I really like all your names!

I know Muslim boys called Noah, Adam and Eesah.

Do you know what you're having yet in terms of girls and boys?

Give them different initials. Musa is the equivalent of Moses, I think.
Musa (genus) - Wikipedia

Congratulations! There are so many gorgeous names in that mix!

Mikael, Idris, Rafi, Nayla, Nadia and Aliyah in particular are just stunning.

Zakia is so cool! I think it sounds great with Mikael :)

Love love love Ismael, Idris and Rafi, and really Nadia and Layla. Also love Noor although I know that’s not on your list.

I have a Mikail, pronounced Mih-Kyle.

Great name

Love Mikael, Mika is so cute! Love Ismael with it but not sure if it’s too matchy with the -ael? Mikael, Musa, and Ismael would be so cute as brothers.

For girls I love Layla! Also not sure if I would spell it Layla or Leila, but I think they’re both pretty. Loveee Zakia as well, it’s gorgeous while still being easy to pronounce. For other Z names have you thought about Zaida, Zafira, Ziara, Zaira, or Zia? Also love Ilya, Anaya, Safiya, and Sakina.

Out of your names my favourites are Mikael, Musa, and Ismael for boys. For girls I like Layla, Zakira, and Aliyah (although I love Dua too).

If you’re bothered with the double M initial, then I’d say Mikael, Rafi, Ismael, and if the double -ael is an issue then Mikael, Rafi, Idris.

Gorgeous names (all go lovely with Amira!) and congrats on your babies! Good luck picking :)

I love Idris, Nayla and Aliyah

Beautiful names

Oops just realized I wrote Zakira in the title and Zakia in the post! I meant Zakia, but I've googled it and apparently Zakira is a Muslim name too? I kind of like it more but I'm going to ask around to see if it really is one or not before I get set on it, so for now I meant Zakia in case anyone was confused!

I used to know a Mikael (I think spelt different as well) who went by Mickey! I don't mind that either, I think it's cute.

I really like Dahlia but in my native language the word for porridge is dalya which sounds too close imo 😭

That was my think with Mikael and Ismael!! I love them both but I think the end might be too similar. I think you can get away with the same ending in most names but -ael is too distinctive to the point where it looks purposeful.

That's a lot of Z names! I actually really like a lot of them, I'd seen them when looking around (particularily Ziara) but I'm just drawn to something about Zakia. Thank you!

I think I agree with you all about the double initial, which sucks because I really do love Musa and Mikael together. Not sure about the genders, we were going to keep them a surprise but tbh with triplets I think I'm going to see if we can go find out anyways.

So far I think I'm pretty set on Mikael and Zakia, I think the K sound ties them together very nicely but not sure about anything else. For boys names I'm seeing many people like Rafi which is nice because I think it's gorgeous too so I wouldn't mind a Mikael and a Rafi, which takes out Musa and Raees. Maybe Idris, but thoughts on Ilyas? Arabic version of Elias.

Also to PP - yes, Musa is the Aarabic equivalent to Moses, similar to Michael/Mikael.

Thoughts on Rumi for a boy? I like it but with Beyonce naming her daughter Rumi I'm not sure. Wish I could use either Musa or Ismael.

For girls I'm thinking with Zakia (or Zakira, I'll have to see) maybe Layla? Like PP suggestion of Sakina but then I think it makes the third girl left out without a K sound. Safiya is nice too.

Thank you all for responding!!

Have just found out it's two boys and a girl!

So probably Mikael and Rafi, but something is keeping me away from it as I feel they don't suit each other. Still nowhere for a girl because I just love all of them.

Congratulations! Lovely news! I like Mikael, Rafi and Layla :)

That's so exciting!

Personally I'd avoid Rafi/ Raffi/ Raffy. We have 3 out of 24 boys where I work - it's the 'in' name so I think it'll date. I love Mikael and I love 'Z' names as they're just super cool and unusual so I would go with a Z for your girl (Zarina is another z).