[name_f]My[/name_f] husband is of African American Descent and I am American [name_f]Indian[/name_f] and English. We are TTC and have come down to a small list of names. However, i still cannot shake the feeling i get when i hear the name “fatima.” It is like music to my ears! I love it so much but have pretty much let the thought of using it go due to “fat” being at the beginning (potential teasing) & that we have no ties to the muslim faith. What do you think about us using it? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it is usable in the US in a non-muslim household? please honest and open opinions.
I live in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] (though a very multicultural part of it) and I’ve known a number of Fatimas, including one of my good friends. As far as I can remember they were all Middle Eastern but I don’t think they were all strict/observing Muslims. [name_m]Both[/name_m] fuh-TEE-mah and FAT-uh-mah are legitimate pronunciations, though most tend to be called and answer to both. They weren’t teased for their names in particular, and honestly, if kids wanted a reason to be mean it wouldn’t matter what someone’s name was, they’d find one.
Well, I know/have known several women named [name_f]Fatima[/name_f]–though they have all been Muslim women.
On an adult I think it would be fine, but it’s very hard for me to imagine it working nicely both on a child who will be raised in American schools and on a non-Muslim that isn’t even of Arabic descent.
Sorry, but my call would be no.
What about something similar that’s less recognizably Arabic/Muslim:
Basima
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Decima[/name_f]
[name_f]Halima[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f]
Nilima
Purnima
[name_f]Salima[/name_f]
[name_f]Faiza[/name_f]
[name_f]Farah[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadira[/name_f]
[name_f]Samira[/name_f]
Uh… I don’t know. I agree that it is gorgeous, but it is so strongly associated with Islam. I can’t imagine meeting a little [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] or [name_m]Mohammed[/name_m] and finding out that the parents just liked the way the name sounds. It isn’t like, offensive or anything (to me) but it would take my brain a minute to catch up. Have you considered [name_f]Paloma[/name_f]?
Thank you all for your opinions!! [name_f]My[/name_f] concerns were the same as all of yours, i think it is more so that it would be hard to picture on her rather than it being offensive or teasing potential.
I live in NYC and know two people named [name_f]Fatima[/name_f]. Nobody seems to have trouble with it. It’s a beautiful name. I think of the pronunciation more as “FAH-tee-mah” rather than “[name_f]FATeemah[/name_f].”
I think it’s perfectly usable in English speaking countries, but I would be surprised to find a [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] who’s parents weren’t Muslim or otherwise Arabic.
I like the fah-TEE-mah pronunciation but the FAT-ih-mah pn - as in [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] Whitbread - isn’t very attractive to me.
Kids can be harsh and if they want to tease, they’ll find something to pick out regardless of whether or not your daughter’s called [name_f]Fatima[/name_f]. I don’t like it personally because I just don’t think it’s a pretty name (and the ‘fat’ at the beginning would be the first thing bullies would notice… Fati wouldn’t be a nice nickname either) but I could see it easily suit a woman past her 20s.
I know of one [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] who is of [name_f]Indian[/name_f] origin and who is Muslim, she’s around 13 years old. I can’t tell you if she gets picked on for it as I don’t know her personally!
[name_f]Fatima[/name_f] is also somewhat common in Hispanic communities. I know of several in my town who aren’t of Arabic descent. I also know of one who is Muslim. I adore the name if the Fah-TEE-mah pronunciation is used.
I know quite a few Fatimas- some Muslim and some Latina. I have not heard any of them complain about their names. I think it is a really beautiful name, personally. If you are concerned about teasing, you might just give her a really solid middle name that she can go by if she ends up hating [name_f]Fatima[/name_f].
I’ve known plenty of [name_f]Fatima[/name_f]'s & not all of them were Muslim.
At the end of the day, children can pretty much find a way to mock ANY name.
If it’s a name you really like, I don’t see an issue with you using it.
It’s something you’re going to be calling her for life.
If you’re worried, you could make [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] her middle name.
It is a common name in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], where my husband is from, and I really dislike it. I would never be able to get rid of the FAT association.
I think if you really love it, you should use it. I wouldn’t be astounded to find a [name_f]Catriona[/name_f], [name_m]Alasdair[/name_m] or [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] weren’t Scottish; a [name_u]Dominique[/name_u], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] weren’t [name_m]French[/name_m]; a [name_m]Gideon[/name_m], [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] or [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] weren’t [name_m]Christian[/name_m] etc… so I can’t see why a [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] not being Muslim would cause an outcry.
I think [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] is gorgeous! However, I understand your concerns with the whole “fat” thing. [name_u]Truth[/name_u] be told, any name could invite some form of teasing or another. Where I come from, no one was ever really teased for their name, whether it was [name_f]India[/name_f] and [name_f]Martha[/name_f] or [name_f]Princess[/name_f] and [name_f]Precious[/name_f]. Some names, however, invite more teasing than others, and some people will likely see [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] as “Fat-ima.” As a middle name however…
All the [name_f]Fatima[/name_f]'s I’ve known were Catholic as it is also not just a Muslim name now. [name_f]Fatima[/name_f], Portugal was the site of the famous apparitions of the Blessed Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f] in the early 20th century. It’s a beautiful name!
I know a [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] who’s family are Tongan, she isn’t muslim and her niece has [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] as a middle name. I say Fah-Tee-Ma
However, I understand your concerns with the whole “fat” thing. [name_u]Truth[/name_u] be told, any name could invite some form of teasing or another. Where I come from, no one was ever really teased for their name, whether it was [name_f]India[/name_f] and [name_f]Martha[/name_f] or [name_f]Princess[/name_f] and [name_f]Precious[/name_f]. Some names, however, invite more teasing than others, and some people will likely see [name_f]Fatima[/name_f] as “Fat-ima.” As a middle name however… 