Comments on: Saudi Arabia and Choosing a Name http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/ Experiences and observations of a former American diplomat now married to a Saudi and living in KSA... Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:36:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Lynn http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-76641 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:28:42 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-76641 @Taj – A good name for girls is Lynn and a good name for boys is Steven ;-)

You’re welcome.

]]> By: taj http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-76633 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:36:13 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-76633 plz send me some good names for male nd female babies thank u

]]> By: Hassan http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-33457 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:05:25 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-33457 تمتص جزيره العرب ، وأنا أكره كل عرب.

]]> By: riyadhmom http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-27009 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:17:02 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-27009 @Aziz – The Prophet Daniel is not mentioned in the Quran (or mentioned in great detail in the Bible either, I think) but you can find mentions of him in the stories of the prophets. It’s a completely legitimate muslim name – I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with it. The muslim version is Daniyal/Danyal.

]]> By: Chiara http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26780 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:56:19 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26780 Coolred–Is that why it hasn’t happened yet? LOL :)
I’d better trust the wisdom of a rightfully proud mother of 5. I guess I have some “work” to do. :P Especially as I’d prefer a full Bobbsey complement. :)

]]> By: tvsrinivas http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26779 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:46:16 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26779 @ radha

maanasa is the name of saraswati, brahma’s daughter born out of mind :)

]]> By: coolred38 http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26774 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:44:20 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26774 Chiara…Im not sure but I dont think “belief” all by itself will bring about twin pregnancies…theres a little more to it then that… ;)

]]> By: Chiara http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26763 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:58:19 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26763 Person–that is a nice summation. I agree with what you’ve said about official names. My only points were that among some people, eg my Moroccan family and friends, David and by extension Daoud seem to them to sound Jewish. Prophet Daoud being one of my favourite prophets, and obviously an Abrahamic one, I disagree with their impression, but have little suasion on some. As I pointed out, Daoud is on the official list of acceptable Moroccan names. Thanks for a nice summary.

Chiara
future mother of twins Daoud and Yeshua (I believe very firmly in twin pregnancies LOL :) )

]]> By: Person http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26759 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:32:19 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26759 There’s a lot of wild speculation in the comments.

Let’s first point out that in Islam, all names are allowed except those that fall within certain categories:

1. Names that can be deemed insulting or humiliating. You can’t call your kid Moron. This may become an issue because sometimes foreigners are in a local culture and the name they pick, which may be a common name back home, is an insulting name in the local language. A local judge/court/agency may disallow it for that reason.

2. Names whose meaning have a religious significance that contradicts Islam. The most canonical example is something like Abd-Yusuf, which means slave/servant of Yusuf. The prophet ruled that such names are forbidden (in this case because people – or at least Muslims – should only serve God – hence Abd-Allah or Abdullah).

I suppose names of prophets in other religions that Islam does not recognize may be considered questionable, though.

Other than that – all names are OK. Even if they have no meaning. Even if they are Anglicized versions of known Arabic names.

Now the above is the usual “Islamic” position. It’s possible that the Saudi agencies are more restrictive, etc. I can’t speak for them.

For example, if a Saudi couple wished to name a newborn son, Joshua, that name would likely be rejected from a religious and therefore governmental perspective.

Are you certain about this? I fail to see why they would do it. The Arabic name for Joshua is Yushua, which is actually on the list of male names that you link to!

Although looking at Wikipedia, it seems that the name has more significance in Shia Islam – so if they disallow it, it may be more to do with the Sunni/Shia issues rather than other religions.

As for Daniel, it’s a common name in the Indian subcontinent (among Muslims). It’s pronounce with a soft ‘d’ – even though the language has the characters to pronounce it like they do in English. So I don’t know if the provenance has anything to do with the Biblical Daniel.

Daoud or Dawood is common in many parts of the Muslim world. Heck, one of the main books of Hadith was written by Abu Daoud.

]]> By: American Bedu http://americanbedu.com/2009/07/22/saudi-arabia-and-choosing-a-name/#comment-26743 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:38:55 +0000 http://americanbedu.com/?p=4042#comment-26743 I do find the subject of names and how they are given and what they may mean to be quite interesting.

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