Here are my names...be nice!

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

I'm going for Arabic with an english middle name, but with the boys I want something that could be shortened to something easy. So-

Girls-
Laila (fave)
Samira
Zara/Zahra/Sara
Amina
Mina
Leila

Boys-
Abdel Ali (Ali)
Bilal (Billy? But I like Bilal as it is)
Kamil (too girly?)
Nasir (Nas...too rapper?)
Samir (Sammy - fave)
Ismael (not easy to shorten but I love it)

I REALLY like Laila Rose or Samir ...something.

Laila Rose is nice and Ismael (but could this be shortened to Issy?)

I like Mina and LOVE Ismael but think that, yes, it will get shortened to Issy. Other than that I quite like Samir.

I like all your girl names and agree with your favourite boy name.

Thanks! Nothing negative so far!

I like Mina and Ishmael (I teach a gorgeous Ishmael!). I have taught a couple of Ishmaels over the years and none of them have ever been shortened to anything else.

I love Samira for a girl.
And Ismael for a boy.

It would have to be Ismael though, Ishmael sounds too Jewish which would just be confusing.

Sorry - just that my latest one has an "h"!

Samira/Zahra/Ismael. All lovely. And I like Samir too.

I like all your girl's names, particularly Zahra & Laila. Rose would be a very pretty mn.

For boys I like Ismael, the only shortening I've heard is to 'Izz' when pn, but the other name on your list I really like is Nasir.

Couldn't have Samir and Samira tho - so I'd have to choose! I prefer Samir to Samira I think.

I love all your girls names - sooooo pretty!

Out of your boys names, I like Samir best.

All the girls names are beautiful. Boys I would go for Samir or Ismael or possibly Bilal. I've known one or two Ismaels and it has never been shortened, but I don't see that as a problem.

I like Laila Rose

my bfs little boy is samir I LOOOVVEEE it and Laila is beautiful

go with your fave's you always regret it otherwise

I had english friends living in turkey and their son was called samir.works in both cultures. Ditto Zara

Thanks everyone! I'm leaning to Laila and Samir, but Bilal and Zahra close seconds!

I suppose I should discuss it with DH.....

Amina is nice. Have you thought of Amira (on our middle name short list)?

Had the same (arabic first name, english middle name) for ds. I love Samir, also Samei, ds was going to be Samir, but when he was born he just didnt look lke a Samir at all. Still love name though. Also like Ismael on your list. We also considered Kamran (Kam), Rohan (ro),Haris (Harry) and Suleiman (Sul), but settled on Aydin (known as Aydie)

For girls I like Leila but there are a lot around at the moment. Also like Amina and Sara. We are now expected dd, considered all girls names on your list, but now thinking about Hannah (Hana is arabic spelling) or Sophie/Sofia.

What other names have you considered...I still need inspiration for girls names so would welcome ideas!

Samira - is that not spelt Samara, or is that another Arabic name?

Miriam is also a nice girlsname with arabic roots.

ooh, Miriam is lovely

also like Sara from your list

I live in Egypt and some of my other favourite names for boys that I know are Amir (means prince) and Karim

I also like Malika for a girl (means angel)

Lovely names All the girl ones are fab - my favs of the boys names are Kamil, Samir and Ismael (I know one shortened to Maele (pronounced Male-y)

Samira and Samara are different names. Miriam is lovely but my SIL is named Merieme so no good! Amir is also lovely but we have friends whose DS is Amir.