Aryan

What is your opinion of [name_m]Aryan[/name_m]? We do not know the gender of our baby so we want to be prepared for both genders. [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] is very popular in [name_f]India[/name_f] but we have never met one in the US. First son is named [name_u]Rohan[/name_u]. [name_m]How[/name_m] do [name_u]Rohan[/name_u] and [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] sound? Thanks

[name_m]Just[/name_m] warning you you’re going to get a whole lot of flak about the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] race. Which isn’t really that widely known [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I really like the name and nickname [name_u]Ari[/name_u]. And [name_u]Rohan[/name_u] and [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] are nice brother names, I would probably just spell it [name_m]Arian[/name_m]. I believe the name is pronounced more like R-E-N than [name_f]Air[/name_f]-E-N any way.

I think of the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] race and I could not name my kid [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] (or even [name_u]Arya[/name_u]) even if I really see the appeal of the name, sorry.

[name_m]How[/name_m] can people don’t know what it is? The expression “[name_m]Aryan[/name_m] race” is extremely related to [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] Hitler and nazism… Everybody knows it in Europe!

It is a name with meaning in [name_f]India[/name_f], which is not in Europe. I was not aware of the terminology until now but yes I am aware of the concept of Nazi Germany. Thanks.

It is well known as connected to Nazis. It’s considered a do-not-touch for most.

:frowning: it makes me think of Nazis. Sorry!

Oh dear mama! Unfortunately [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] does stir up horrible thoughts of the Nazis. However, it is a 100% legitimate name AND is in the top 500, so there are boys with the name! [name_m]Even[/name_m] so I would not recommend it.

Definitely makes me think of Nazis and Hitler’s ideology. Unfortunately, such sentiments are not exactly forgotten in the US (and seem to be making an unfortunate resurgence). Considering that children usually learn about WWII and related topics in school, I would see this as a very embarrassing, hard name to bear.

I agree that it would be very hard to wear - where I live (Australia), at least, the connection to Nazis is very well known.

Here’s a perspective from an [name_f]Indian[/name_f] man Raja thatha's blogs: Why "Aryan" isn't a great name for kids abroad

It could work as a middle name with a spelling variation (e.g. Aryaan or [name_m]Arian[/name_m]) if it’s a heritage name for your son and if it has deep personal meaning for you (e.g. a family name). I think it’s probably best to look for another name, though - perhaps [name_m]Arjun[/name_m] or [name_m]Arun[/name_m]?

I think [name_u]Rohan[/name_u] is a lovely name, by the way.

200 little boys in [name_f]England[/name_f] & [name_m]Wales[/name_m] were given that name in 2015. It seems [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] is on its way to beimg reclaimed.

ETA: It’s pronounced uh-ryan. I don’t see the issue. Babynamewizard has comments by people who bear the name. It seems a quick pronunciation correction fixes people’s issues with the name. I’d be concerned with resumes and job hunting down the line though.

I don’t suggest it, for the same reason others said. Since you asked for opinions, that’s my opinion. It’s a pretty name, but the association with white supremacists is too strong and too awful for it to be usable. Sorry :frowning:

What about [name_u]Orion[/name_u]? (Especially if you’re going for the “uh-ryan” pronunciation).

I have a very negative reaction to the name, as others have explained already in this thread. I like the suggestion of [name_u]Orion[/name_u] as an alternative.

If you don’t live in Europe or [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_u]America[/name_u], maybe it isn’t seen as offensive or that there’s a negative connotation, but to millions of people, they will see [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] and automatically think [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] [name_m]Race[/name_m]–not a positive thing. If that doesn’t bother you or you don’t live in a country where it’s an issue, then maybe it would work for you. [name_m]Just[/name_m] bear in mind that we live in a global world so your child will one day encounter others and have to deal with having a name with horrible connections.

Thank you. We live in US but come from [name_f]India[/name_f] where [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] is very common without problems. Thousands of boys will grow and go into the world with this name but maybe not my son.

I don’t see any problem with [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] (in fact I really like the writting) but maybe because english is not my mother tongue so I don’t think on [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] [name_m]Race[/name_m]. [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] was a name before Hitler… (btw, I pronounce [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] as if you were saying letters R-E-N)

I would drop this one like a hot potato. If you live in Europe or the US, it’s tied with Hitler

Mostly if you live in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] or the UK or in the US, because I’m european and it doesn’t have any bad connotation to me. Ok, there’s the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] [name_m]Race[/name_m]. but isn’t [name_u]Arya[/name_u] for example a popular name right now? There are a lot of baby girls called [name_f]Aria[/name_f] and [name_u]Arya[/name_u].

[name_m]Aryan[/name_m] culture was a fact in [name_f]Indian[/name_f].

Maybe Hitler stolen the name, but it is not his property.

If it’s well used where you are, then there should be no problem. It has to be said that in the [name_u]West[/name_u] we’re hyper sensitive to this sort of association, and I agree with @undertherainbow’s point that [name_u]Arya[/name_u] / [name_f]Aria[/name_f] is very trendy and also very similar to [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] / [name_m]Arian[/name_m] (and that the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] race is a separate thing to Nazis and Hitler). I think [name_m]Arian[/name_m] would largely avoid any potential problems myself.

I personally view [name_u]Arya[/name_u] and [name_f]Aria[/name_f] as something very separate to “[name_m]Aryan[/name_m]”. [name_f]Aria[/name_f] is musically-tied. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] can either be a different spelling of [name_f]Aria[/name_f], or is more widely known to a TV show. Spelling-wise, yes, it is similar to [name_m]Aryan[/name_m].

The thing is, the name is tied to a world of pain and negativity to many in the world. I lost relatives in WW2. I’ve gotten to talk with/meet one of “Dr. Mengele’s twins”, who endured very brutal treatment, including injections of unknown chemicals to transform her dark hair and eyes into what fit the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] [name_m]Race[/name_m]'s ‘perfect picture.’ I understand that the name [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] has a much different tone in the [name_f]Indian[/name_f] culture and I’m glad that Hitler’s actions apparently haven’t tainted their opinion of the name. However, if this child would to be born in a different part of the world than [name_f]India[/name_f], then there are very realistic concerns with him using this name.

I’m not trying to be a you-know-what at all to ya. This is just my perspective on both the [name_f]Aria[/name_f]/[name_u]Arya[/name_u] and the Hitler doesn’t own the name issues. I feel like you did bring up some interesting viewpoints and think they are definitely valid. With a hot-button issue like this, though, there’s just a lot going on emotionally here for many people…which is why it is problematic as a name.

This name would have been on my list if it weren’t for the negative connotations, especially with the state of things in the US right now bringing up a lot of those issues again. My husband is [name_f]Indian[/name_f] and we named our first son [name_m]Rayan[/name_m] (but we use an Americanized pronunciation - [name_u]RAY[/name_u]-uhn) and are considering [name_m]Kiran[/name_m] for our baby that is due in 2 wks if we end up having a boy. I agree that the [name_m]Arian[/name_m] spelling might help, but then you’re not sticking with the traditional [name_f]Indian[/name_f] name. I know it can be hard to find a suitable [name_f]Indian[/name_f] name that is easy enough to carry in the US. We have spent months trying to come up with one! Good luck! If you decide to use the name, I’m sure when you correct mispronunciations, any issue should go away. Plus, the kids your baby will grow up with will not know the negativity surrounding the name. Yes, they still teach about the [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] [name_m]Race[/name_m] in school, but by then, the other students will know him as uh-[name_m]RY[/name_m]-an and the connection will not be that strong. If you love the name, I say use it.