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!

What a load of crap, cultural appropraiton my big toe.
Call your child what you wish. Iris is greek. Jessica is Hebrew. Jasper is Arabic. Rebecca is Hebrew as is Sara.

Names have always spead across cultures and with a lot of muslims living in the UK we all know people with Arabic names and it's unevitable some will be used by white Brits, partly because of mixed race kids and partly just because if you know and like someone called e.g. Amira you are more likely to consider it as an option than if you've never heard the name.

I know Christian Indians with what we'd consider European names like Jennifer and John so why not somebody white with the name Mariama (so very close to Miriam or Mary)? The more people that choose cross cultural names the better if we want to reduce racism.

Also, English is the global language, so English names are universal in a way that names from other cultures aren’t. It’s why Chinese students often choose an ‘English name’ for themselves, for example. It’s really not possible to ‘appropriate’ English culture in the same way, so these comparisons are a little silly.

No, as these are commonly used names in many countries, albeit with some spelling variations. Some of your choices are very obviously Arabic (although very lovely).
Do you just like the names or is there a reason behind it (perhaps a special trip you took together). My friends gave their kid the Greek spelling of a popular name because that was where they met while working overseas.

My name comes from a different country/ culture. I don't look anything like a person from this country. Many people don't even know my names origin and often ask. I just say it's from X country and sometimes it means Y. This is followed by oh, it's a beautiful name & meaning (yep, my parents choose well!) I don't feel awkward or weird about it. It's just a matter of fact.

So use the name that you love the most for your little girl!

I'm white but my husband is Pakistani.
we had Amyrah, amaya and Amira but last minute called her Maliha 😅
there’s some beautiful Arabic names and I know a lot of white girls with names that are Arabic but sound more white 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wtf

I'd assume you were Muslim if you gave your child a Muslim name. Also, with Islamaphobia on the rise, it's probably not a good idea giving your child an Arabic name.

Wow, staff need diversity training again! Bonkers to assume religion based on name and a large proportion of Arabs are Christian so even more silly.

Arabic and Muslim aren't the same thing though.

I don’t think it’s an issue. Go for it.

What about Amalia? It’s European but similar to some of your favourites maybe?

Mildly off topic but there was a thread about a year ago where the op was asking for opinions on Zara and majority thought they were naming the kid after the fashion chain.

I think names is a fine line. I wouldn’t see a problem with people from other countries giving their kids names with origins in the British isles so I don’t really see the problem with a white British kid having a name with an Arabic origin as long as it I wasn’t a particularly religious name as that would be more likely to be seen as cultural appropriation imo.

Bonkers that people think you can’t call a child a name outside its origin. My name is Russian and my siblings names are French and Spanish. My friend is white and her name is Indian. It’s fine.

I love Amira and Safiya

Don't worry about using a name from your country of origin. You can use any name you feel fits of which you like the meaning

Incredibly insensitive of them

Cultural appropriation? Nonsense. I know a Jewish Amira and a white, English Safia. Safia has to keep correcting people who see her name written and assume it’s a typo for Sofia, but Safiya shouldn’t have any problem with that.

I know two mothers, one white Welsh, the other Asian Muslim, both of whom have sons called Idris.

It would never occur to me that any of these names flag an individual as Muslim. And, even if they did, what’s the big deal?

I mean as someone mixed black/south Asian I would be surprised if I met a Fatimah, Shahida or Iqra and it was a white British person lol

But if you love the name then go for it? Amaya and amirah are pretty easy to 'integrate' in that sense imo. Zahra, Yasmin/Jasmin are also nice. Selena, Saphiya, Aaliyah/Alia/Alya, Mina, Aisha/Alisha/Alicia

Anya

I wouldn't do it OP.

Mohammad is a very common name but I've never come acros a white English family with a son called Mohammad.

Idris is a Welsh name to be fair. Loads of Idris’ here in my corner of Wales!

i agree with your post though

I am half Arab and I don’t think it’s cultural appropriation. Some Arabs name their children Sally or Heidi or Diana. Give your child the name you like! Here are some of my favourites:

Selma (safe)
Selwa (comfort)
Esma/ Asma (supreme)
Dahlia/Dalia (grape vine)
Dina
Ward/ Wardah (Rose)
Nadia
Nayla (successful)
Lulu/Loulou (pearl)
Amani (hopes)
Samar (one who is tanned)
Nariman (courageous)
Mariam (Mary)
Nora/Noura (light)
Hana/Hanna (Joy)
Sara
Abla (perfect)
Anisa (happy)
Dana/Dania (perfect pearl)
Nadira (rare)
Sawsan (Susan)
Samia / Samya
Karam/Karima (generous)
Maram (hopes)
Souraya (constellation of stars or jewel)
Inaya (care)
Aida
Narmin/ Narmeen(flower)
Atiya (gift or present)
Jannan (heart and soul)
Haya (virtue)
Hala (Halo)
Lina (delicate)
Souhaila/ Souhayla (gentle)
Loujane/ Lujain(silver)
Ramlah (Sand)
Randa (Bay leaf)
Jouri (Damask Rose)
Kinza (Treasure)
Jumana/Joumana (Pearl)
Baylasan (Elderflower)
Shadin (Young Gazelle)
Orjuwan/Juwan/Joane (Purple, and an ornamental shrub)
Sidra (Tree)
Kinda (Mountain)
Kayan (Existence)
Joudi (Ancient Place)
Renad (Perfume)
Minna (Blessing)
Aryam (Gazelles)

Millions of S Asians are Christian.

I think that as long as the chosen name doesn’t have direct connections to a religion that you’re not part of (Mohammad etc) then it should be alright to use.

Make sure you do your research into spelling and pronunciation as well if you’re choosing a name from another culture. We have a girl at work whose name sounds like a colour but is spelt like a well known Welsh name.

I don't think it's appropriation. Why should Phoebe and Zara be OK but not Safiya?

There are so many names out there I wouldn't think anything of it.