Having your child named by the Aga Khan
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85135)
Shingle Springs, California
October 16, 2008 2:56pm CST
I have a friend who is an Ismaili Muslim. The Ismaili's are a Shi'ite group who believe that their Imam, the Aga Khan*, is the successor to the Prophet Muhammed. Apparently it is a great honor among Ismaili's to have your children named by the Aga Khan. When the child is born, you send the child's birthdate, gender and other information off to the Aga Khan, requesting that he provide the child a name. Some time later, a couple of months apparently, you receive the child's name in the mail. My friend was lucky, her children were given the names Nadia and Amyn. Thank goodness it wasn't Murgatroyd! All kidding aside, if it were a great honor to have your children named by the spiritual leader of your religion, would you do it?
*Ali Khan who married Rita Hayworth belongs to this family.
2 people like this
3 responses
@psspurgeon1 (1109)
• United States
16 Oct 08
No I wouldn't. I'm pretty stubborn and don't like to just go with what is preferred especially the name of my child. To me that is a special thing that my husband and I and our children take part in. We spend the entire 9 months picking out names and I would not just give up that right to have my spiritual leader name my kid. I do like the names Nadia and Amyn though but I still would want to make that decision for myself. With my first daughter, we didn't tell anyone until she came out becasue we didn't want all of the interference (you know people go crazy giving you baby names) and our second daughter, we actually let our older daughter decide on her name. Of course we gave her choices but she is the one who decided.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Oct 08
I totally understand. A friend once told me you shouldn't tell people your child's name until after they are born. Before they are born, people think it's ok to make comments and suggestions, but after they are born, what can they say but "what a lovely name"? lol I have a few stories about that sort of thing with my own children!
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
16 Oct 08
No, I don't think I would allow someone else to name my child. I don't care if it was a great honor. A religious leader would not know enough about my family to choose the right name. Heck, my child could be stuck with some awful name that I couldn't pronounce right.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
17 Oct 08
I applaud anyone who has enough faith in their religion leader to accept what they consider such an honor, as naming a child. For me naming my child is on a more personnal level. I did however recieved many different suggestions. I can say I did not take one of them. I took my time and choose my kids names for something I hope they can proud of some day.
@yuna15 (2706)
• Philippines
17 Oct 08
[i]No I definitely wouldn't let others name my children. I want my children to know that we personally gave their name as parents. It's something personal. What if the name they gave is something that I don't like? I don't want to be forced to name my children with something that I might not even able to pronounce.
In fairness to the people do this though, it's a noble thing for them to do. Their just being faithful to their religion and beliefs. A good follower of their own religion would definitely appreciate anything.
[/i]
