Witness-
A good point, about the intentions behind a name. What do you think each revert's reasons for keeping that name would be? Or further still, what about the
parent who is naming the child?
Well technically, if we're assuming that every Arabic name causes people to associate you with Islam, then calling your child "Ghabi", which means stupid in Arabic, would also relate you to Islam. But of course, that name is not acceptable because it has a negative meaning.
Should a person refrain from naming their child something that doesn't have the possibility of having an Islamic association?
Light of Heaven-
I agree, I also like unusual names..
But then why not call my child a Japanese name?
That's true, that people associate Arabic names with Islam, which is I guess perhaps a reason many converts choose to change their name to something Arabic.
Arab Christians do sometimes have certain names that only they use, such as George or Tony, for example, but then there are the "secular/neutral", for lack of a better word, names, that neither have to do with either religion, but have a good meaning, and are used by both Muslims and Christians.
Sorry if I'm rambling..
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