[name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u]: I loved it so, so much for a baby girl, then a bunch of people on Nameberry began insisting that [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] is a boy’s name, and there was just way too much hate on it for me to ever use it on a daughter of my own.
[name_f]Habiba[/name_f]: A lovely Arabic name meaning “darling,” and one very close to my heart. I fell in love with it and thought it was the single most melodic, soft, and beautiful name I had ever found–that is, before my fiance got his hands on it. After politely vetoing it, he decided he wanted to tell me that it sounded like “Hubba [name_m]Bubba[/name_m].” That forever soiled the name, even though, deep down, I still love it and hope he’ll come around to using it. Maybe…
Ajna: pronounced (Eye-Nah). A name I discovered about 4 years ago, and fell for really hard. It was perfect: short, sweet, trendy, familiar, uncommon, and it started with an “A.” I loved it. I even got my fiance on board. Then, I saw the list of the most popular names in Bosnia (where my fiance & I are from), and Ajna was number 3, and projected to go all the way to the top. That literally killed the name right there, so, in my attempt to find something similar yet uncommon, I found and fell in love with [name_f]Anja[/name_f]. A subtle shift, but one that made me love the name so much more–and hopefully one that will never make it onto the Top 100.
[name_m]Hamza[/name_m]: I loved [name_m]Hamza[/name_m] with all my heart, and I thought it was going to be the perfect name for a future son. I had loved it for almost a year when I finally decided to ask my fiance how he felt about it. He promptly informed me that he had two cousins named [name_m]Hamza[/name_m], and I instantly lost my desire to use that name. I still love it on other children, but I can’t see it on my own.
[name_m]Harun[/name_m]: Similar story to [name_m]Hamza[/name_m], I loved the name for about 2 years, then floated the idea with my fiance. Surprise, surprise, he had a less-than-lovely cousin with the same name. I took it right off the list, even though I still love it and think it’s a beautiful name.
[name_m]Simba[/name_m]: I loved [name_m]Simba[/name_m], and I got it approved by my family & my fiance. We all agreed, a lovely name with wonderful Swahili roots. I thought it was “The One,” then, while talking it over with my friend at school, and incredibly anxious girl turned around and said, “OMG, Simbaaaa? Like the Lionnnnn? Coolllll.” The name [name_m]Simba[/name_m] died with those comments.
Ilijas: Pronounced (Ill-Ee-Ahs)–similar to [name_u]Elias[/name_u], more like Ilyas. I loved the name. It was perfect: soft, strong, classic, unfamiliar. A 10. Then? Then my fiance got his hands on it, and insisted it was a Catholic/[name_m]Christian[/name_m] name, and seeing as those we’re a Muslim couple, that would be absolutely unacceptable…except that Ilijas IS a Muslim name, but whatever. It’s hard arguing with someone as stubborn as him. I just took the name off the list and let him have his victory.
[name_m]Naser[/name_m]: I LOVED this name. It sounded so perfect, and I truly thought it could be “The One” for about a week, before I told my fiance and he informed me it was the name of a war criminal. I’ll take that right off the list.
Safija: Pronounced (Sah-[name_u]Fee[/name_u]-Yah), similar to [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]. I’ve always loved the name, and I thought it was a good mix between familiar and out-there, because the spelling was true to my culture but the sound reflected my American roots. However, my fiance & mother both insisted it was an “old lady name,” and wouldn’t relent until I finally crossed it off the list. I still love it, though. A girl can always hope.