Whatever happened to these Somali names for girls?

[Avicenna]

Growing up, most of my neighbors, friends and female relatives had the following names, but lately all I see are knock-off Arab names for little girls, what gives?

Names like:

-Suuban (niece), Abyan, Amran, Filsan (cousin), Ruun (neighbor), Kiin (young aunt), Ugaaso, Falis, Ruumaan (3rd grade classmate), Xukun, Sagal, Ayaan (never liked this name, but it beats "Sowdah" i.e. "dark one"), Siman, etc.

Must we Arabize every aspect of our culture in order to become "more" Muslim? Most of today's names for little Somali girls are Arab names that pre-date Islam, even Amina, Halima & Aisha are pre-Islamic in origin, so why not continue on the tradition of naming our daughters beautiful & positive Somali names?

[Lillaahiya]

Camran/Filsan/Ruun/Kiin/Sagal/Ayaan/Siman waan walaa aqaana. They're quite common.

[Advo]

Blame our women, the number one self hating group on earth.

Dads really have to take the driver seat when it comes to female names.

[1nemansquad]

warninyow waa waxlala yaabo, my relatives naming their kids all kinds of strange names (arab) and I'm thinking dadkan maxaa ka qaldan? but aniga noway jose

[Avicenna]

Lilaahiya - probably older girls waaye kuwaa taqaanid, right?

I meant the under 10s, most of the ones I've seen have Arabic names, some which are hard to even pronounce.

Why not stick with what we know and have known for centuries?


Advo - you're right, abti.

I have a newborn niece whose name I can't even pronouce for the life of me. Meel eey ka keeneen xitaa ma aqaano.


Ps. I always liked Ramla. My grade school crush.


1neman - keep it simple & Somali Ilaaheey wuxuu ku siiyo. That's my plan.

[ToughGong]

I know an Canab an Idil a Barwaaqo and a Sagal
Never heard of Rumaan though,I thought that was a fruit

[Beenaale_No1]

Ugaaso is a bad ass name walahi.

[abdisamad3]

I was hoping to name my little daughter batuulo but my wife didn't agree she said it was ugly old name

[1nemansquad]

i've always liked the name Ladan, no idea why

[Firefly]

Speaking of names, what about shmaak? Is that an authentic Somali name? My spelling might be wrong. If so, does anyone know the meaning of it?

[Twist]

@abdisamad: You should have stuck to your guns and call your daughter Batuulo.

Category 1

Batuulo
Xabiibo
Khadiijo
Maano
Madiino
Nadiifo
Muumino etc

Category 2

Suleeqo
Sureero (or Sureer)
Falis
Fowsiyo
Fardowsa (or Firdows)
Sagal
Suuban
Saxarla etc

[ToughGong]

Speaking of names, what about shmaak? Is that an authentic Somali name? My spelling might be wrong. If so, does anyone know the meaning of it?

Sharmarke;see no evil

[Avicenna]

Seem - Ruumaan is a fruit, but that's what they chose to call her. I knew one called Jakaay, another one Istarliin, Hiinda was also common, even went to dugsi with a girl called Bakistaan, true story sxb.

Parents were more creative and more Somali oriented back then, they would even go the extra mile of adding the Somali touch to names of countries & cities. It was at least original, no matter how weird.

abdisamad - Batulo is old skool sxb, I don't blame your wife refusing it.

Your poor girl would hate you for it when she meets the Samrans and Sabrinas out there.

Idil, Ladan, Ugaaso.

[Firefly]

Speaking of names, what about shmaak? Is that an authentic Somali name? My spelling might be wrong. If so, does anyone know the meaning of it?

Sharmarke;see no evil

No, it isn't Sharmarke. It's a different name. Thanks, anyway.

[ToughGong]

Seem - Ruumaan is a fruit, but that's what they chose to call her. :

On reflection I posted one called Canab,markaa maxaan ulla yaabiba sxb

@ Bakistan though