Arabic names for white child

[Violetrose7]

Me and my partner are both white British, the baby girl names we love the most include Amira, Amaya and Safiya, all of which are of Arabic origin. I also love Zara but he isn’t keen.

has anyone got any other suggestions similar to these names and also does anyone think it would be an issue using an Arabic name when we have no connection to the culture? We just love the names!

I wouldn't do this. It's cultural appropriation, and even if you don't care about that (and MN generally doesn't think it's a thing) your child will go through life explaining why she has an Arabic name when she has no Arabic connections.
Maya is a lovely name. What about Sara? It feels pretty similar to the ones you've listed but is classic but not common.

Seraya. It's a lovely name

I do care about that. That’s why I was asking if people think it would be an issue. It’s confusing because names come from all over the work and are used in the uk (my given name is Greek) and when they’re commonly used nobody bats an eyelid. but I would hate to offend

That’s another one my partner loves

Maybe Sofia/Sophia if you like Safiya.
If you like Amira maybe Miranda or Mirabel nn Mira

I knew a white couple who called their child by an Arabic name just because they liked it. The child was so severely ill at one point that they were in the Children's ward and an Imam was called by staff who assumed they were Muslim. In all the stress of having had a cleric called because staff thought the child was so ill he needed to be prayed for, they had to explain they just liked the name.

How about Serafina then?

Cultural appropriation I’m afraid.

I knew an Amaya who was the most white English child ever !
Until this thread I had no clue it was an Arabic name.
(She had a sister that was called something very "English". I forget what it was. Something like Alice??)

Maya, Ida, Layla, Mira.

I would not do this. You surely do not want your child to explain her name all the time- tedious. She might find it embarrassing too.

Well you certainly can use an Arabic name if you want to, especially if they are the only names you truly love for your little girl, but it will probably raise some eyebrows.

Some similar-sounding name suggestions: Serena, Seraphina, Alyssa

Farah

In this day and age there are so many cross cultural names that I don't think you really need to worry. There are a ton of white British kids named Luca and Maya/Zara and so on. If you love the name, go for it. It's not cultural appropriation, it's admiration. I'm of Indian heritage and we have Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Greek, Italian, Swahili and English names in our family. Just teach your child to be proud of where her name comes from and don't erase that cultural/linguistic connection. It can be a beautiful thing.

I’ll let my Indian friend know she can’t use Annabel anymore for her daughter. Can’t believe she was cultural appropriating English names.

As someone who works in a school I no longer bat an eyelid at any name. Spellings and the double names get an eye roll.

You could use the traditional English pronunciation of Sophia if you like Safiya (it rhymes with the way they pronounce Maria in Pride and Prejudice, i.e. like Mariah)

Just out of interest would you say the same if a child was called Sara, Zara, or Layla all of which are arabic?

Lots of British names have a foreign origin, even ordinary ones, and Chloe, Zoe and Phoebe are Greek... I think it's fine. The only thing is that you will be forever explaining you have no Arabic connection, just liked the name. That's if people actually know it's Arabic. How about Leila? That's a bit more well known here. I was at school with a Soraya, which is lovely. If you're in a big city there will be lots of unusual names in the classroom. Seriously, use a name you love.

I love Sofia but my partner isn’t keen due to how popular it is! With the two spellings combines of Sofia and Sophia it makes it the most used name in the uk last year

Layla/Laila is Arabic! Mira and Maya are Indian names. It just shows that it's not about where a name comes from, it's the familiarity of it. OP should name her child whatever she likes, as long as she teachers her the origin of the name and approaches it with pride and respect which it sounds like she will.

Oh I would not worry at all. My name is French, and I am African and named after my moms best make who was Greek, even tho her name was French. I think it shows u really thought about her name.

Some bonkers responses on this thread. Of course you can give your child a name that’s Arabic or French or Greek or Colombian, if you like the name. Cultural appropriation is such a crock.

I very much like the name ‘Amira’.

Sara is Egyptian

Really? Unless he was called Muhammad I can't think of any Arabic name which someone would assume is Muslim. Its not like everyone from Arabic countries or with Arabic heritage is Muslim.

I’ve got an Egyptian name, never had to explain it once because, well, no one gives a shit.