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Original poster

Oh help! English sounding muslim boys names

95 replies

difficultdecision · 07/08/2009 16:24

We have a lovely DS (Adam) and am now 15 weeks pregnant with what is probably another little boy according to the most recent scan.

Obviously we are delighted either way but a girl would have been easier as we have a handful of girls names that we love already.

The complicating factor is that we are an english muslim family, with both muslim and non muslim grandparents to bear in mind and a few german speaking relatives thrown in (just don't ask!)

Names we quite like,

Noah
Sami
Daniyal
Isaac

erm, that's it and we already have a daniyal and an isaac in our circle (although not that close).

can anyone suggest any more?

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sarah293 · 02/03/2010 18:33

This reply has been deleted

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AllieW · 02/03/2010 20:00

What about Ishmael? I've always loved that name.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 02/03/2010 20:02

Thread is from August! Baby is probably named by now.....

AllieW · 02/03/2010 20:04

Whoops! Didn't think to check that. Guess she must have been due late Jan.

Elsa123 · 03/03/2010 13:44

I don't know any but thought I would vote for Rayan! It sounds really nice.

BitOfFun · 03/03/2010 13:56

I knew a beautful boy called Karim, Riven, I was going to say that! Oh, he was gorgeous

DrNortherner · 03/03/2010 13:58

My friend has a Zac and a Nasser. Nasser gets called Nassi or Nas by all of ihis friends, I love the name.

Welshy1 · 26/03/2010 11:57

Hi guys im in need of real help, im in a similar situation myself, minus the handful of german speaking relatives lol.

My husbands family are muslim and mine are not. I found out a week ago I am expecting a baby boy and we are all chuffed, I love the name Noah and as it is both an islamic and an english sounding name it works out great.

However my mother inlaw and father inlaw seem to hate the name, and have told me I have to put in another name so that they can call him that, I am not happy with this and at times feeling rather bullied by it, can anyone give me advise and tell me whether I have to have the say, of muslim grandparents before naming my child?

Thank you :-)

Sariska · 26/03/2010 12:14

Of course you don't have to have their agreement - although they may (may) expect to have some input. What does your DH think? It will be easier if you can present a united front.

FWIW, my Muslim PIL had similar reservations about my DS's name - Noah - but were happy enough to use the Islamic equivalent, Nuh. It's proven harder with my DD's name, which has no Islamic equivalent but IME people gradually get used to a person's name, whatever their initial reservations.

Welshy1 · 26/03/2010 12:37

This is all pretty knew to me, as nothing was ever explained, Untill I got pregnant.

Im willing for my child to have its head shaved and a circumcision, although this was hard for the family on my side to except, although they did and have not tried to interfere at all.

Im just feeling very depressed now I am being told what I can and cant name my child, I love my inlaws and get on with them greatly, I just feel it should be our say in the name we use, as me and my DD scrowled for hours through islamic english names and come up with one we love -NOAH - then to be told by them they cant stand it and that it will not be used in their house was quite hurtful to me. I have even told them they can call him NUH for short, and I was told to look through the names again and chose something else - help, what would you advise ? :-(

somebodysfool · 26/03/2010 15:07

The name I would choose if I had another boy is Kaya means rock I beleive

mathanxiety · 26/03/2010 15:22

You need to get your DH to stand up to his parents and stick up for you. This is more about the family dynamic than the name per se.

Sariska · 26/03/2010 16:08

Absolutely agree with Mathanxiety.

Will your DH stick up for your point of view? Does he know how you feel about all these things?

I know it can be hard in this sort of situation but you really don't have to agree to head shaving, let alone circumcision or a name you're not happy with.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 26/03/2010 17:57

quite cross at your PILs. DH needs to grow a spine and tell them that you name your DCs and they use the name you choose. Might be better to shelve Noah and choose another, but don't, for goodness sake, tell PILs until baby is born and named!
This has nothing to do with them being muslim, in fact many of these habits are cultural not religious, DH's culture doesn't require shaving DCs' heads (and I wouldn't do it if they did). Can't understand why you didn't discuss this stuff before though, DH and I have only had one major parenting clash and it was something that couldn't have been anticipated! Everything else we could think of we discussed and compromised on before getting pg. Be careful that it's not all done DH's/PIL's way and none of yours - you are a mixed couple, not a muslim couple, and even if you are muslim I'm assuming from a different culture to DH, which also needs to be acknowledged and recognised.

Welshy1 · 29/03/2010 09:19

My DH has now spoken with his parents and advised them that we will name the child what ever we chose, So we will just wait and see, Ive known for the past 8 years that a circumcision would need to take place, although neither me or my DH new that the head needs to be shaved, as although his brothers childrens head were both shaved they are both muslim, and we just assumed that this was in relation to culture not to the religion.And as the pregnancy was not planned it was never spoken about before.

When my DH advised his mother we would not shave the babys head we were both told to leave and that she never wanted to see either of us again, as it was an important aspect of the religion..... As I said I get on with his parents really well but I think their old fashion views not so much the religion, are trying to be pushed upon us, they are really good to both my DH and myself, but this does not mean I can be indermined in this way, and as none of my friends really understand, they dont comment, this is my last resort, as I have noone to speak to, I think I just need to do a bit more research into the religion, as this is MY child and I am going to have to start making this clear!

AllieW · 29/03/2010 18:57

There seems to be a little info for you here, Welshy1:

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100103161836AAvfH2A

Further googling seems to suggest that it is mainly Muslims of Arab descent who are keenest on the practice.

yellowflowers · 30/03/2010 16:49

Omar is lovely.

Ruben?

Such a shame Osama is a bit of a no go these days because Osama shortened to Sam is lovely.

1stmonkey · 31/03/2010 16:07

I knowo how you feel - i'm in a very similar family situation and expecting my first. Also have a ton of girl's names that i like but struggling with boys.

So far i like Aydin, Ehan, Elias, Haris, Laith, Rayan and Zain.

Unfortunately hubby is proving quite difficult to persuade! Do let me know if you get any good ones!

Suzihaha · 14/04/2010 23:46

Hey Welshy1

I wanted to give my opinion as I am in a mixed relationship, my parents are muslim Arab and my DH is English. We have two boys, both circumcised but didn't have their heads shaved, it is not a religious thing so you definitely don't need to accept what your PIL are demanding.

It is very difficult finding the right name for your child, but more so for a nice sounding Muslim boys name in English. My sons are Laith (means lion) and Jude (derivative of the word for generousity Jawad). Laith is used a lot but Jude is quite unusual. We had planned on him being called Aiden but when he was born we switched.

The ones we liked (other than Laith and Jude) were:

Aiden
Adam
Rayyan
Zachariah
Zane
Dean
Sami
Dani
Yusuf
Zaid
Rami
Ali
Karim
Bila l

Magaly · 15/04/2010 08:39

I know an Isam.

You don't have to have your baby circumcised or have his head shaved. Say no. Put your foot down.

GladioliBuckets · 15/04/2010 15:48

I thought in Islam you're supposed to choose a name from a set list of Muhammad and his family's names. In which case, you could do that for a middle name and choose whatever you like for a first name. In fact if he had Muhammad as a middle name nobody could possibly complain could they?

MadameCastafiore · 15/04/2010 15:51

Noam

beanlet · 16/04/2010 16:25

Rafi. Means "noble, sublime". Often used in English as a nn for Raphael, so a good dual purpose name!

QueenOfHearts22 · 17/04/2010 07:13

Hamdan is a lovely name, can be shortened to Dan/Danny. Pronounced Hamdaan, v nice!

Also love Leith and Noah, both beautiful names. Fazaa is nice too, I think it means 'hero'?

Welshy, if your little bubs is already 'Noah' to you, then stand your ground. Being in a similar situation myself I would say you have to stand strong on your decisions or you will be bullied into all sorts. Pick your battles obv but please don't let your in laws make you change your name choice!

Firawla · 18/04/2010 13:51

welshy the head shaving is not a MUST its v highly recommended but u do not HAVE to.
if u are not Muslim urself I think they need 2 cut u a bit of slack, what do they expect from a mixed marriage, it necesitates comprimise..
btw I am Muslim myself but dont think they should bully u on these issues
dh needs to stand up for you. noah/nuh should be acceptble to them? i dont see why not?