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!

Realistically yes, using an Arabic name that isn't commonly used outside the culture will potentially result in different experiences to using one that is. And not just for you, but your child. This may include not only exposure to people who don't approve but who are confused. However, this isn't a static thing either. Someone gave the example of Aaliyah, which is a good one. I expect that name has been given to many more non-Muslims born in the UK in the last 25 years than it was in preceding decades.

This isn't in any way limited to Arabic names either. A British person called Fiachra is overwhelmingly likely to have Irish connections, less so Connor, even though both names are Irish in origin.

Go for it.

I have a name which isn’t from where I am from. If asked a simple ‘no, but my parents liked the name’ sorts it.

Cultural appropriation, behave 🙄
Beautiful names op

Do you have any experience of this? As a woman with a very non-English name, I can tell you this does not happen. And when it does, it is almost always a point of friendly interest.

Makes me laugh! The same people who want us to live in a lovely multi-cultural, integrated and cohesive society where we all take advantage of the merging of cultures call it ‘cultural appropriation’ when the cohesion results in names being shared. It’s a joke.

I bet that name is Sian, and it’s been mispronounced Cyan!

No, it's more about a dominant culture feeling it's okay to pick and choose what they like from a culture they've colonised or demonised. It's really shit to hear how your religion, language, way of life is irrelevant, old-fashioned and sometimes offensive, but then have your religious symbols used without meaning on cushions and garden ornaments, or your names used without any knowledge or respect for the meaning or history.

Where do Roxanne or Roxana originate?
Wasn't she the wife of Alexander the Great?

Doesn't matter. People have no problem naming their kids Ezra or Asher, classic Hebrew names. My Iraqi family, early 20th Century, included names like Albert, Edward, Regina... But be prepared for misunderstandings.

My suggestions would be: Mira, Lina and Jasmin

Amira and Amaya are both beautiful names. I wouldn’t say either are going to raise eyebrows that you’re not Arabic personally.

I like Haya, soraya is lovely who cares about cultural appropriation, we have all sorts of names in our family and I’m brown, you are giving your child a name you love. I know a philippino Amira and met a few non arab Leila’s.

Look at the meanings as well OP

It's totally fine OP. I don't see it as an issue at all in the UK in 2025. People call their kids all kinds of names.

I'm not white and my DC have common UK names with Hebrew origins.

Names like Amira and Amaya have become "international" like Maya and Layla.

If you were going to call your DC an obviously Muslim name like Fatima or Muhammad yes I think that would be weird but no issue with the names on your list.

I don't believe the story upthread about the imam being called to a children's hospital. No way did that happen.

I think it is important to have a name that is easy to spell. I have a name that is really hard for English speakers to spell. I get so many calls to reconfirm the the spelling so people can send an email. As my parents are from the culture of the name I explain it a lot and I don’t actually mind. I wonder would it be more annoying if I had no connection to the culture?

OP let me assure you that naming your child something from another culture is not cultural appropriation. People get awfully confused about CA.

Choose whatever name you want (maybe exception is Muhammad as someone said above). If someone of Arab heritage ever asks your DD where her name came from and she replies saying that her mum thought Arabic names sounded pretty then that is far from offensive.

May your DD have a wonderful life but explaining the origin of her name is not going to make the top 99 things she ever has to worry about.

Most of the names we use originate from other countries. Including the examples you've given of Maya and Sara

This did not happen 🙄

I am of non white heritage and agree with everything here. But names are outside of this remit unless they are absolutely sacred to that culture. Almost all Hebrew/Arab/Biblical names are too intertwined to belong to one group of people.

Did OP do any of those things?

This is such an interesting discussion because we use so many names which are not, at their roots, British, or even European. Anita, for example, is Spanish but also appears in Sanskrit and Hebrew. And many beautiful names like Layla we don’t even question. It’s great that you care enough to give this some serious thought. Have you spoken to any Arabic communities about their views? I think lots of people have to explain their names, by the way, for example, the correct spelling, because we now live in a digital age where this is far more important, as well as the origins.

How about Amaia? Maybe that spelling is a bit more ambiguous in origin.

I think Zarah, Lyla, Farah, Maya or Layla.

I never get the ''cultural appropriation'' thing.

That could be used as well to criticise anyone who gives a name to their kid that has a latin/roman or greek root (which is what most parents who want to be seen as ''posh'' seem to do...).

Gosh, Zara was used here in the 80s, never knew it was Arabic before!

"A white British family living in Britain with no cultural or family ties to any country where Arabic is spoken choosing an Arabic name is not the same thing. People are going to be confused by the choice."

Why's that then? We live in multicultural Britain, it's part of what makes up our community now too. Isn't that the point of multiculturalism, sharing cultures? New communities made up of people from several cultures, mingling with the indigenous cultures?

White Brits are still just as much a part of this community....or are they to be excluded from participating in this blended culture?

There's also the fact that, you know, it's just a name.