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 bloody nonsense about cultural appropriation. A beautiful name is a beautiful name. End of.

Haha yes it's a traditional Jwish and Arabic name..and Scandinavian and German and so on.

I can't believe people are on about cultural appropriation - it's ridiculous!

I have a little grand niece called Amaya. She is mixed race but not of Arabic descent. Isn't Jasmine Arabic ...or Persian? A lot of us have Hebrew names or Greek. I wouldn't over think it.

@Abhannmor Jasmine as a name of a plant is of Persian origin.
Rose is of Latin origin from a Greek word.
The girl's names Rose and Jasmine are English.

Names like Sarah, Helen and Catherine are English but originated from Hebrew and Greek

In the grand scheme of things, with regards to name choices it’s definitely small fry, but cultural appropriation is absolutely a phenomenon that exists and is well documented historically.

Names also don’t exist independently of other social phenomena and there good reasons why people from the global south have or choose ‘European’ names - namely, colonialism and imperialism. It is not uncommon for some people in the US or Europe to take such names in place of those of their ethnic origin(s) to try and avoid discrimination and racism (such as when seeking employment and in hiring practices).

Choose the name you want. But it’s hardly unknown for white/European people to be drawn to the ‘unusual’, ‘unique’ attributes associated with other cultures, and to embellish their own identities with elements taken from them. I would say if you don’t feel entirely comfortable with it maybe trust your gut as that is all that really matters - how you feel about it.

It’s not an issue. Choose what ever name you like.

It is an issue, and I wouldn't choose a name without considering the implications.

Which ones?

Yep. Glad the first post ACTUALLY nailed it here.

The 99 names of Allah ones for a start. @SpudsAndCarrots

Use whatever name you love. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Arabic and Islam isn't the same thing though.
Many Arabic names will have nothing to do with Allah.

It's not really about whether OP cares about it or other people on MN, but people from the culture concerned.
Loads of cultures/ethnic groups enjoy seeing their names used by others and some don't.

I think you can definitely reason that this is fine. As you say lots of ‘foreign’ names end up becoming common and totally ‘accepted’. I think I might be a bit embarrassed though (even though I can make the intellectual case for it being fine), so I wouldn’t do it.

@Needmorelego , you could start an argument in an empty room, you could.
The Arabic language is closely linked with Islam.

Not an argument.
Just stating a fact.

In all honestly, its a really daft thing to do. She will spend her whole life needing to explain why she has a name that she nor her family have any connection to. The names you are considering are common arab names so you won't even get away with being one of those parents who insists on a 'unique' name.

I really love Saris, really love them. But I would never wear them because its an odd thing for me to do as a white British woman. You are giving your daughter the name equivalent of me wearing a sari. Please don't give her this burden to carry. You change your name to an arabic one if you want, but don't lumber your daughter with this.

Brutally, its a really wanky thing to do.

@applespeck one of the 3 names the OP likes isn't just an "Arabic" name though.
Amaya has both Spanish and Japanese roots.
It's just a name. No more "wanky" than naming a girl Phoebe, Astrid, Cassandra, Zara, Anastasia or any of the other gazillion "non British" names that girls in the UK have.
(I don't know the background of the other two names)

Will she though? Would you actually go up to a white girl and ask her to explain why her name is Amaya? Who would do that!?

As I said upthread I knew a girl - totally white British - called Amaya.
The only thing I ever remember anyone saying about the name was "oh that's a pretty name".

I am British Indian and I do not care if you wear a sari. Go ahead! It's a lovely garment. As long as you don't claim to have invented it.

@applespeck I looked up the meaning background of the other two names.
Safiya does seem to be an Arabic name popular with those who follow Islam.
Amira is apparently popular with Bosnian Muslims - so an Islamic name but not Arab.

It's just a name. If you like it, use it.

Based on my experience of knowing people from the ME, I doubt the average Syrian or Iraqi person really cares about the idea of a white family using an Arabic name. There are already plenty of white girls out there called Layla and Zara and Yasmine. A good name is a good name.

Yes but my point was that many, many names are directly connected to religions and they're not only used by followers of the religion, so there's no need to warn OP about that.

How did all those biblical names become mainstream? Because people were using them.