Opinions please

[newlife]

Hi I'm after opinions.

Dh desparately wants to call this little boy Abdullah. I understand the meaning of it and significance of it and that it's a Muslim name. I'm after what are your truthful thoughts, attitudes toward this name would be. What 'aussie' connotations do you see with that name. What would be your kids attitude towards a kid in their class with that name. I'm only asking coz I want to gauge whether he will have problems in Australian society with that name.

Btw this will only be part of the decision making process not the all of it.

Thanks

[frenchieM]

What is your other DS name? Is it a muslim or foreign name as well?
I am not really sure what 'aussie' connotations there would be, kids find a way to tease any name.
I think if it "fits" and flows well with your other DS name and your names then go for it!

[Z'sMum]

I think in today's society, there are sooo many multi-cultural/unique names out there - there shouldn't be any problems

And I agree with Frenchie - I think kids will be kids and find a way to make fun of any name!

[rstoj]

I don't think kids will tease a name like Abdullah, because its so common. The only issue I would have with it is that it immediately identifies your son as Muslim, and some people may carry prejudice about this without even getting to know him first. So as long as you have no issue with that, then definitely go for it.

[DFH's Mummy]

I would name your child what you want. MY kids wouldn't care.

[LoveNeverFails]

Abdullah is an Arabic name, meaning "servant of Allah".... Barely anyone who is not a Muslim would even know that. I looked it up lol. So I doubt your son would have religious-discrimination issues.

Only thing to consider is that Aussies have a very predictable habit of abbreviating long, foreign or almost any name for ease of saying it all the time, and the love of nicknaming each other. Therefore your child would most likely get called something like "Abe" or "dulsey" or "Abdul" by school mates or whoever, more often than he would ever be called by his proper name. If this doesn't bother you or hubby then go ahead.

If your child has the dark
Skin to match his name, he might get what a kid at out school got labeled (his name was abdul) Kids mistakenly labelled him as the Indian kid (I know, pretty stupid seeing as its incorrect) because Abdul, apparently, like abdullah rolls of the tongue like like it should be said like Apu of the Simpsons would say it. He never seemed to be bothered by the (incorrect) stereotype though.

Really, any name can be tampered with by creative annoying kids. We had a "hairy fairy Terry" a "dickhead" coz his name was Richard Crane. (which turned into Richard cranium and then some genius loser remembered the abbreviated nickname for Richard was "dick".. Dick cranium is dickhead lol) there was Lezzo Lizzie and plenty of others. So yeh kids are extremely likely to tease your kids name, no matter what u call him.

Go with what you like and what has significant meaning to you. Not what others think or what you think "matches" your other kids names. Your the ones who have to address him as such for the rest of your lives

[Dusty]

I went to school with a fair few Abdul's, and honestly? That was their name, and that was that. No teasing that I can ever recall.

If you are happy with the name then go for it! But you should be equally as happy about the name as your DH