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Help[Opinions] Choosing an Arabic name for yourself
I was reading in a name book (so this could be totally wrong mind you) that when a person converts to Islam, they usually pick a new Arabic/Muslim name. I've seen this in terms of non-Muslim women marrying into Islamic royalty (as in, Queen Noor of Jordan, who was born Lisa) but I'm not sure if it's true in terms of regular people converting.
But let's say, for fun, that it is true. If you were to choose an Arabic name for yourself, what would you pick? I love choosing hypothetical new names for myself.
My picks would be:
Khalilah - for its nice meaning ("friend") and because it starts with the same hard-K sound my current name has
Izdihar - sort of has the same meaning of my current name ("blossoming" - I was under the impression that Chloe meant "blooming, blossoming" for years, not "green shoot", so I still think of it that way.)
Zahra - see above ("blooming flower")
Lujayn - love the sound; it's comfortingly familiar yet friendly and fresh, and it has a pretty meaning ("silver"). I would also favour this for a daughter.
Sharazad - just because that would be awesome. Another daughter-name contender. For awesomeness.
Tabassum /Ibtisam - looks just like what it means: "smiling, smile"
Dalal - for its neat, acnient/futuristic look, though the meaning ("coquettishness") is not really appropriate.
Fizza - fun, energetic "fizzy" look and nice meaning ("silver")
Hala - nice meaning ("halo around the moon")
Rawiya - for its meaning alone ("storyteller"). I'm not hugely fond of the sound though.
Ruqayya - for the meaning ("rise, ascent" and/or "charm, spell")
Sadaf - for the supercute meaning of "seashell"
Shama - very pretty meaning of "lamp, candle, candlelight"
Anyways, I had way too much fun with that. What would you pick?
But let's say, for fun, that it is true. If you were to choose an Arabic name for yourself, what would you pick? I love choosing hypothetical new names for myself.
My picks would be:
Khalilah - for its nice meaning ("friend") and because it starts with the same hard-K sound my current name has
Izdihar - sort of has the same meaning of my current name ("blossoming" - I was under the impression that Chloe meant "blooming, blossoming" for years, not "green shoot", so I still think of it that way.)
Zahra - see above ("blooming flower")
Lujayn - love the sound; it's comfortingly familiar yet friendly and fresh, and it has a pretty meaning ("silver"). I would also favour this for a daughter.
Sharazad - just because that would be awesome. Another daughter-name contender. For awesomeness.
Tabassum /Ibtisam - looks just like what it means: "smiling, smile"
Dalal - for its neat, acnient/futuristic look, though the meaning ("coquettishness") is not really appropriate.
Fizza - fun, energetic "fizzy" look and nice meaning ("silver")
Hala - nice meaning ("halo around the moon")
Rawiya - for its meaning alone ("storyteller"). I'm not hugely fond of the sound though.
Ruqayya - for the meaning ("rise, ascent" and/or "charm, spell")
Sadaf - for the supercute meaning of "seashell"
Shama - very pretty meaning of "lamp, candle, candlelight"
Anyways, I had way too much fun with that. What would you pick?
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Replies
My choice would be Maram, I love it.
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I've been a fan of Khalilah since I met one years ago.
I probably wouldn't pick it though because it seems so popular.
I also like Leila / Layla, but ditto to my reason for not using it.
I'm a fan of Qaysarah (maybe from Qusay. I'm not sure. I used to know a girl named this). Pronunciation may be an issue too often for my taste.
I'd like to use Sabriyya because it sounds and looks just incredible.
But I'd probably end up using Suhylah. I just love the sound and the look is pretty cool too. Also, it would pertain to the religion I had converted to. (It's a feminine form of Suhail.)
I probably wouldn't pick it though because it seems so popular.
I also like Leila / Layla, but ditto to my reason for not using it.
I'm a fan of Qaysarah (maybe from Qusay. I'm not sure. I used to know a girl named this). Pronunciation may be an issue too often for my taste.
I'd like to use Sabriyya because it sounds and looks just incredible.
But I'd probably end up using Suhylah. I just love the sound and the look is pretty cool too. Also, it would pertain to the religion I had converted to. (It's a feminine form of Suhail.)
This message was edited 9/29/2010, 11:41 PM
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Geez, I dunno - I have no idea at all of the contexts for the names. If I was converting my religion, I'd probably choose more based on religious connotation, than similarity to my English name or whether or not I thought it was pretty.
I have always thought Midha was pretty, though. And Dima seems like it could suit me alright.
I have always thought Midha was pretty, though. And Dima seems like it could suit me alright.
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I would choose Amani, simply because it's so sweet.
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I like:
Aaliyah
Aisha
Amira
Ayesha
Layla ♥ (my niece's name)
Malaika
Mariam
Noor
Safiya
Soraya ♥
Yasmin
Zahida (one of my closest friend's name, pron. Za-HEED-ah by her Scottish friends, Zah-id-ah {really short middle part} by her family, almost Zah-dah)
Zulaykha
I would likely go for Soraya Noor or Soraya Yasmin. I have always found Soraya beautiful and exotic. I think Noor or Yasmin go well with it.
Aaliyah
Aisha
Amira
Ayesha
Layla ♥ (my niece's name)
Malaika
Mariam
Noor
Safiya
Soraya ♥
Yasmin
Zahida (one of my closest friend's name, pron. Za-HEED-ah by her Scottish friends, Zah-id-ah {really short middle part} by her family, almost Zah-dah)
Zulaykha
I would likely go for Soraya Noor or Soraya Yasmin. I have always found Soraya beautiful and exotic. I think Noor or Yasmin go well with it.
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Although my family aren't practicing muslims in the slightest, I already have an Arabic / Persian name (Soraya). Razia is very nice, and I currently really like Layali, which is uncommon and a nice alternative to the frankly horribly overused Layla, Leila etc. I was nearly an Isra or an Alina (which works in most cultures), but of those I find Isra the nicest. I really like Sahar, too. I also like Ayda, Tahani or Tahiyat, Farah, Nur, Ruya, Sa'ida, Samar, Safiya, Samiya, Sanya, Tahira, Zahira and Zahrah. Hala is pretty too. That said, I know a few people named Hala, one of whom is a young British muslim a few years younger than me, who was teased horribly at school because some malicious kiddie somehow came up with the nickname Halal, just for her (completely different word to Hala, but it makes no difference to most people).
I already have an Arabic name, so there's no real point in me replying, but I was curious... in any case, all of the above are in the running for any future daughter I may have, with the exception of Tahani and Tahiyat, which are too out-there, I feel, and possibly Ruya.
I might ask my boyfriend what he'd pick if he took an Arabic name, but since my family's not big on religion or any of that kind of thing, and he's a hardcore atheist, I can't ever see that being anything more than a theoretical conversation just to wind him up :P
I already have an Arabic name, so there's no real point in me replying, but I was curious... in any case, all of the above are in the running for any future daughter I may have, with the exception of Tahani and Tahiyat, which are too out-there, I feel, and possibly Ruya.
I might ask my boyfriend what he'd pick if he took an Arabic name, but since my family's not big on religion or any of that kind of thing, and he's a hardcore atheist, I can't ever see that being anything more than a theoretical conversation just to wind him up :P
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Alina - It was my great-grandmother's name, I love it and it also works in my language.
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Fun!
I think I would choose Lamis. I just really like the sound and that S ending. It means "soft". That or Isra meaning "nocturnal journey" and I'm pretty much nocturnal myself ;)
I think I would choose Lamis. I just really like the sound and that S ending. It means "soft". That or Isra meaning "nocturnal journey" and I'm pretty much nocturnal myself ;)
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I would choose between these:
Farah - "joy", because I think it would suit me
Karam - "generosity", the closest I can come to my name (except for Lina). I'm not sure I like the sound of it, but it has a nice meaning and I think I would learn to listen to it easier than Farah
Lina - "palm tree" or "tender", my mother calls me Lina so it's a part of who I am already which is great. Not a big change though so it doesn't really represent the change I would go through converting to Islam.
I have a silver necklace with my name (phonetically correct) in Arabic letters that my sister had made for me when she lived in Jordan. I wore it when I visited her and once a woman saw it and read it out loud and she pronounced my name perfectly, which was both fun and surprising.
Caroline (from right to left)
Farah - "joy", because I think it would suit me
Karam - "generosity", the closest I can come to my name (except for Lina). I'm not sure I like the sound of it, but it has a nice meaning and I think I would learn to listen to it easier than Farah
Lina - "palm tree" or "tender", my mother calls me Lina so it's a part of who I am already which is great. Not a big change though so it doesn't really represent the change I would go through converting to Islam.
I have a silver necklace with my name (phonetically correct) in Arabic letters that my sister had made for me when she lived in Jordan. I wore it when I visited her and once a woman saw it and read it out loud and she pronounced my name perfectly, which was both fun and surprising.
Caroline (from right to left)
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ohh!
I want a necklace like that! I find Arabic writing so beautiful.
Karam is really nice, I like that one a lot.
I want a necklace like that! I find Arabic writing so beautiful.
Karam is really nice, I like that one a lot.
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I play the game in my head, if I married an Muslim man and /or moved to an Arabic speaking country, what name would I choose? My two favourite Arabic names are Safiya and Zakiyya although I'd spell it Zakiya. Apparently they both mean pure, I don't think I new that until just now.
I also like Shakira and Sharazad / Sherezade but I wouldn't use them. I've known a couple of Muslims called Razia which I quite like, but that doesn't seem to be in the database.
I also like Shakira and Sharazad / Sherezade but I wouldn't use them. I've known a couple of Muslims called Razia which I quite like, but that doesn't seem to be in the database.
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i am so glad
that someone else does this! I play the "if I married a man like this" game all the time. I'm really open minded about that kind of stuff, so I like pondering the choices.
Zakiyya is great!
that someone else does this! I play the "if I married a man like this" game all the time. I'm really open minded about that kind of stuff, so I like pondering the choices.
Zakiyya is great!
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