KHALIL
T and I knew we wanted an Arabic name for our boy to honor T's heritage. The front runner early on was Amir. We both loved the name, which means prince, however, I didn't like the name with our last name. It just didn't flow. . . at all. So, we went back to the drawing boards, which is when I came across the name Khalil, and I knew instantly that THAT WAS HIS NAME. I loved the name so much because I love the poet Khalil Gibran, whose most famous writing, The Prophet, was read at our wedding, as well as my parent's wedding. Sometimes it is spelled Kahlil, but the proper Arabic spelling is Khalil. So, we went with it.
I usually say his name like KA-LEEL. Although, the proper Arabic pronounciation is Khalil. . . and think really throaty sound on the Kh. But, it's all good, and I love the name, and I love that it has so much meaning for us. :) Seriously, his name was easy to choose!
SCARLETT
Scarlett's name = not so easy! The night before my 20 week ultrasound where we were hoping to find out the gender, T and I were sitting in our office, and we said, if it's a girl, let's name her Zahra Susan! Zahra is T's Mom's name, and Susan is my Mom's name. The next day, we found out in fact that it WAS a girl, so Zahra Susan it was! We started affectionately calling her Zasu. Now, Zahra is a beautiful name, but not an easy one to say for English speakers. I've been around Arabic so much, that I know how they accent words differently. And because T and I were keeping the name a secret, I didn't have anyone to bounce the name off of. Well, around 8 months pregnant, I decided I better bounce the name off someone, because I was realizing how misprounced the name would be. I spelled the name for my friend, and asked how she would pronounce it, and she said Zara. A couple other friends agreed, Zahra = Zara. Well, the real pronounciation is actually ZaHHH - ra. (HEAVY accent on the H) T and I realized that her name would always be mispronounced, and we just weren't okay with that. So, back to the drawing board we went. We were about a month from having her, and had no idea what to name her. Then the name Scarlett came to me. I loved the name. It has no significance in my life. Just a name I love, and one that isn't real common. (I didn't want a too common of a name) T loved the name also. The only problem was. . . my sister just had a baby in November and well, let's just say that Scarlett rhymes with her baby's name, and I thought that may be a bit weird. So, I talked to my sister and asked her opinion, and she didn't mind at all. She said that they are cousins, and not sisters, so it's not so weird. Granted, many people call Scarlett by my sister's baby's name, and visa versa, but whatever.
And the runner up to Scarlett was Elise, after Beethoven's Fur Elise. What do you think? Does she look like a Scarlett, a Zahra, or an Elise?
8 comments:
Damon and I were the opposite. We had tons of girl names that we agreed on but had such a hard time agreeing on a boy's name. Luckily we did have one and that is his name. HA! :) I think she looks like a Scarlett because that is how I know her but they are beautiful names!!
I'm still in doubt! She could be an Elise, she would have Zahra if people wouldn't butcher it. All in all, I still like Scarlett the best.
I think Scarlett is perfect. YOu are right that Zahra would've been misprounced forever! Scarlett Susan sounds so nice. Heather
both of your kids have very sweet, extraordinary names - love 'em :-)
are you leaving this weekend? you're leaving this w/e, aren't you??
I think she looks like a Scarlette..but I've only ever known her as that so it's not hard! I love BOTH of your kids' names!
I have all my girl names picked out, but naming Z was hard. It didn't help that we decided on Z, and then told a friend...she was having a baby two months before us and she chose Z too...I was mega annoyed, but stuck with it because it was the only name we both LOVED! Next baby I'm doing it your way and keeping it a secret!
She is such a cutie, and I loved reading about their names. Have been keeping up with your blog but haven't been great at commenting - so sorry! Thinking of you in the weeks ahead - it will all be great; I just know it!
She's beautiful ! Your story is very similar to mine ! I also sent our adoption application during my early pregnancy (we're still waiting and will be for a very long time though) And I have lots of ties to Arabic culture, having lived in Tunisia for years. Good luck with your trip !
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