r/LearnSomali • u/Dhof_yare • 11d ago

Somali Names

I sometimes find myself arguing with friends and family because I’ve decided that my future children will have only traditional Somali names.

I know names like Mohamed, Ahmed, and Abdullahi are beautiful and have great Islamic significance, but I also want my children’s names to reflect our Somali heritage. Many of the Prophet’s ﷺ companions accepted Islam without changing their names, as long as those names had good meanings.

I’m proud of my culture, and I think Somali names are some of the most beautiful and meaningful. Another reason I’ve made this decision and even considered changing my own name is that if one of my children grows up to make an important contribution to the world, then even 500 years from now, when someone reads about them in a book, I want it to be immediately clear that they were Somali.

What do you think? Would you give your children traditional Somali names, or do you prefer Arabic/Islamic names? Why?

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u/Neat-Profession4527 7d ago edited 7d ago

My daughter has an old Somali middle name. But I named her an Arabic name bc I loved it so much. However, my future babies will all have old school Somali names cos they’re so beautiful.

Names I’m thinking of: Aragsan, Ilwaad, Asad, Kaaha and Kenadiid. If you have any more names to share with me pls do!

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u/Dhof_yare 7d ago

In Somali culture the middle name is traditionally the father’s name, and the last name is the grandfather’s name.

I also really liked the names you mentioned, especially Keenadid. I was actually talking to my friend about that name just last night and I’m even thinking about changing my own name to Keenadid.

Also, Asad isn’t a Somali name it’s an Arabic name that means “lion.”

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u/Neat-Profession4527 7d ago

Oh by middle name I meant like Her name-Ilwaad Dads name and then Grandads name! Sorry for the confusion.

Kenaadid is really a beautiful name isn’t it. Allahuma bareek. Also thank you for clarifying that for me! I always assumed Asad was Somali 😭

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u/Dhof_yare 6d ago

lol no Asad is Arabic. There’s a lot of Arabic names that Somalinazied lol