Hey everyone, the post earlier that asked if a family of European descent using the name Nayeli was cultural appropriation or not really got me thinking about a name that lately I’ve been considering. That name is Nafisa and it is Arabic. I think it looks and sounds absolutely beautiful and the meaning is “something precious or extremely desired”.
I think if I chose this name I’d be highly concerned that I would be engaging in cultural appropriation and that maybe it would seem silly on a girl that isn’t Middle Eastern or Indian…
I would like to explain that my original gravitation towards this name was to actually use at as an honor for a young lady who has passed but also it did occur to me that a few names commonly seen on white girls throughout the US (either currently or over the past decades) are Arabic in origin. I’m talking mainly about Lila, Farah, and Aliyah. I would say Farah is centered more in the 70s, 80s, 90s but Lila can still be seen in many American classrooms and I’m acquainted with a woman my age (about 20) named Aliyah who doesn’t have any Arabic heritage. I’ve noticed especially with Aliyah / Aaliyah that the trend is quite common. So maybe Nafisa is not all that far fetched?
I would just like to know what everyone’s thoughts are. And ideally someone who is of an Arabic speaking background. Thanks so much!
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I do not think this is cultural appropriation at all! You have done research on the name and know it’s roots. You aren’t oblivious of it’s origin, so I don’t think it is.
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^just linked other threads but didn’t realize this was old, oops! sorry everyone