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In the Name of God بسم الله

'Western sounding' Muslim baby boy names

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  • Advanced Member
Posted

Salam all,

Am currently almost 8 months pregnant with baby #2 and we still don't have a name picked out for him. Trouble is that my husband really wants a name that is 'Western sounding' but also Islamic......I'm ok with this as long it's not too Westernised/the name isn't fundamentally altered. So for example, I wouldn't be ok with calling my son Jacob even though it is the Western equivalent of Yaqub, because they sound very different and Jacob just sounds really Anglo to me, which I want to avoid. I might be ok with something like 'Adam' as the Islamic and Western versions are quite similar, though they're pronounced differently. The only name that we both *kind of* agree on is Zakariya, but I'm not fully happy with this name. Ideally, if it is a name where there is no difference at all between the two versions/how they're pronounced that would be amazing for me. 

Anyway, I was hoping you wonderful people could suggest some Western sounding Islamic names that fit the above description or even suggest some not-necessarily-Islamic-per-se Eastern names that are English sounding (ie. even if it's not necessarily an Islamic/Arabic name, as long it has a good meaning and doesn't sound too White but that would fit well into the West, if that makes sense lol...). Have already gone through all the Prophets names but maybe there are some names we're not aware of. Baby #1 is Sofia if that helps.

Thank you, and if you come up with the winning suggestion, you will have our eternal duas! 

Posted

Congratulations! 

Zain, Jude, Daniyal, Harris (don't know if Shia name or not) Ayman. 

Hey, what's wrong with Ali, Abbas, Ammar, Hassan, Hussain, Salman, Miqdad, Maithum, Mortadha???? 

  • Moderators
Posted

@starlight gives excellent suggestions. 

If none of those seem good to you, find a list of "biblical names" and choose ones that are also Islamic and have good meaning, for example Ishmael or John. 

  • Advanced Member
Posted (edited)

Salam ' ILia or ' iLya ''is equal to name of Ali also matches with Sophia

Edited by Ashvazdanghe
  • Veteran Member
Posted

Noah is easier to pronounce than Nuh (Noo7 with a heavy Haa).

I always think it would be too much effort as a parent calling that name, imagine if you have to raise your voice to tell him off for being naughty, or call him downstairs for dinner. You'd be out of breath in no time.

Nooooooooooo7! 

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  • Forum Administrators
Posted
1 hour ago, ~RuQaYaH~ said:

I might be ok with something like 'Adam' as the Islamic and Western versions are quite similar, though they're pronounced differently.

I thought it was pronounced similarly. In all honestly, Adam is the best choice in my opinion for a compromise. 

Also, “Islamic” and “Western” are misnomers, you are really saying “Arabic” and “English”. Lots of languages have variations of these names (Eastern and Western languages), which are all equally synonymous with each other. (For example, Yayha (Arabic), John (English), Juan (Spanish), Yuehan (Chinese), and Ivan (Russian)).

The only advantage the Arabic versions of these names have is their use in the Qur'an. But in my opinion, if one is non-Arab, the culture specific version of the name is a perfectly fine choice. Maybe others have different opinions, but people are free to pick the names they want.

Of course, the interchangeable nature of these names worldwide are usually for the Prophets. For Ahlul-Bayt and companions, variations of these names may be more restricted to cultures that have had more historic Muslim influence, and if one is from a different culture and want these names, they may have only the Arabic version to use. Correct me if I’m wrong.

  • Advanced Member
Posted

Congrats ,sister ! May Allah bless u n ur baby 

Zayn is cool, it's also a singer's name lol 

Well I myself always thought that if I live in a western country n I have a son, I'll name him John. As I know John is یحیی n Hazrat Yahya had some similarities to Imam Hussain (عليه السلام).  Like  he was beheaded or he was born when his mom was 6 months pregnant etc. I love Imam Hussain (عليه السلام) N I think it would be nice if my son explains these similarities to his friends!!

  • Advanced Member
Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, Propaganda_of_the_Deed said:

Yo don't do that, he'll get bullied for sure. Kids are cruel.

32tpru.jpg

If he s my son, he won't give a damn about anyone's idea or bully !

Edited by strength=Abbas
  • Advanced Member
Posted
5 minutes ago, aaaz1618 said:

My old boss called his son Rayyan, because it sounds sort of like Ryan and has a nice meaning.

How about Askar or Asghar? Could pass off as Oscar which is a fairly popular name recently.

Or Sami, it's just like Sam or Sammy.

Here we go with my name ! Sam ! COOOOOLLL name 

Guest Flippene Shaniqwa Tyrell
Posted

Danial, after the Prophet.

Your son could be known as Danial 'just call me Dan'.

  • Advanced Member
Posted
32 minutes ago, strength=Abbas said:

If he s my son, he won't give a damn about anyone's idea or bully !

Where have you got that idea from? You have no idea what the inside life of school is like today. It's brutal. I've been there, I was bullied for about 6 long years but it's kind of simmered down now. Looking back, I don't know how I didn't kill myself, I've never had anyone by my side it's was me waking up every morning and preparing my shield against what I knew was coming. 

As a parent there's not much you can do and the teachers, there's only so much they can do too. But what you can control is the name they are given, don't give your child a name which will kill them.

  • Advanced Member
Posted

@Vindemiatrix

I'm sorry you went through that and I can empathize being a mongrel half breed cur. Unloved and unwanted by family and society.

I hope you have taken those words and actions of pain and turned them into armor and shield to protect you going forward. 

Posted
3 hours ago, Haji 2003 said:

Binyamin.

No explanations needed.

Benjamin? not sure:worried:

to be honest when I saw you had made a post here I was hoping it would a very 'Haji 2003' deliverance on sticking to Muslim names. 

  • Forum Administrators
Posted

No not Benjamin. Binyamin. Because that's even better than westernised.

  • Forum Administrators
Posted
3 minutes ago, starlight said:

I was hoping it would a very 'Haji 2003' deliverance on sticking to Muslim names. 

You mean calling the kid Muhammad because it's the most popular boys' name in the United Kingdom?

Guest Bean pudding sloogle
Posted
7 hours ago, starlight said:

Hey, what's wrong with Ali, Abbas, Ammar, Hassan, Hussain, Salman, Miqdad, Maithum, Mortadha???? 

Why don't I hear my fellow Shias say things like: Adam, Musa, Isa, Nuuh, Ibrahim? It's as if Prophets of God are a thing reserved for Sunnis. 

It's easy to predict what sub-Shia demographic will typical have what names. 

Guest Mo Salah
Posted
7 minutes ago, Haji 2003 said:

You mean calling the kid Muhammad because it's the most popular boys' name in the United Kingdom?

Did you read that report that Islamophobia has gone down in the United Kingdom overall thanks to Mo Salah?

Posted
1 minute ago, Haji 2003 said:

You mean calling the kid Muhammad because it's the most popular boys' name in the United Kingdom?

Hahaha, no,any regular Muslim name. Why do people feel the need to blend in so much with the western culture. It's like loosing our identity. Growing up,I had Rebecca, Natasha, Nataliya, Sarah(the western 'sarah', not Pakistani Sara) as classmates. Some of my friends also emphasized on western sounding hybrid names for their kids.I never understood why or how it's important. 

  • Advanced Member
Posted

Why is Muhammad the world's most popular name ?

Posted
2 minutes ago, Guest Bean pudding sloogle said:

Adam, Musa, Isa, Nuuh, Ibrahim? It's as if Prophets of God are a thing reserved for Sunnis. 

I know Shia kids named Musa and Ibrahim. The rest you mentioned aren't very common names in Sunnis too. I have never come across anyone in my life named Nuh or Adam and just one Isa. 

I cannot go on repeating myself. I told you the reason yesterday when you asked me why Zainab, why not Khadija or maryam. It's human nature to name their children after people they love.

Guest De trout
Posted

That’s silly, put your foot down and embrace your Muslim background. Hussein, Moussa, Yousef, Yasser, Kassem. Reminds me of the real estate agents in my town who all have fake names like “Abe” Darwish, “Jennifer” Fadlallah, “Sam” Almoussawi. It’s just embarrassing. How is the west going to get used to our beautiful names if we do nonsense like this? 

  • Advanced Member
Posted
Quote

Where have you got that idea from? You have no idea what the inside life of school is like today. It's brutal. I've been there, I was bullied for about 6 long years but it's kind of simmered down now. Looking back, I don't know how I didn't kill myself, I've never had anyone by my side it's was me waking up every morning and preparing my shield against what I knew was coming. 

As a parent there's not much you can do and the teachers, there's only so much they can do too. But what you can control is the name they are given, don't give your child a name which will kill them.

Oh boy! I have no idea how much emotion one can have . 

I was never bullied or even if I was, I didn't notice . I was so ignorant about these stuff 

N plus, how on Earth a name can be so important ?!

  • Advanced Member
Posted
44 minutes ago, funklebits said:

Unloved and unwanted by family and society.

Exactly, no one wants us in society, not strangers or my relatives. If I didn't have my direct family, I'm sure I wouldn't be typing this now. 

  • Advanced Member
Posted
1 minute ago, strength=Abbas said:

Oh boy! I have no idea how much emotion one can have . 

I was never bullied or even if I was, I didn't notice . I was so ignorant about these stuff 

N plus, how on Earth a name can be so important ?!

Well forgive me for being a vulnerable child who was carefree back in the day. 

The name is important. My surname is Jaffery and do you know what I was know as because of this. I was known as Jaffacake in relation to myself being weight, but I pulled myself together and changed my body and health completely it took some years. And now I am left alone (most of the time) they still know I'm a friendly giant who is still emotionally vulnerable. Let's trade places so you could see how felt. 

  • Advanced Member
Posted
5 minutes ago, Ali~J said:

Well forgive me for being a vulnerable child who was carefree back in the day. 

The name is important. My surname is Jaffery and do you know what I was know as because of this. I was known as Jaffacake in relation to myself being weight, but I pulled myself together and changed my body and health completely it took some years. And now I am left alone (most of the time) they still know I'm a friendly giant who is still emotionally vulnerable. Let's trade places so you could see how felt. 

I did not mean to hurt ur feelings or make fun of u or anything . I'm just so ignorant in such things. So I really do not understand how one can feel bcuz of what ppl say or think .

I do hope that life treats u better,brother =)

Posted
Quote

Well forgive me for being a vulnerable child who was carefree back in the day. 

The name is important. My surname is Jaffery and do you know what I was know as because of this. I was known as Jaffacake in relation to myself being weight, but I pulled myself together and changed my body and health completely it took some years. And now I am left alone (most of the time) they still know I'm a friendly giant who is still emotionally vulnerable. Let's trade places so you could see how felt. 

That reminds me of something from my college days, but it would be too off topic to mention here. 

I am sorry you were bullied in school, but what they made fun of what your weight really not your name?

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