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Saudi bans 50 names, including 'Rama', 'Alice' and 'Abrar'

  •   Sat, Mar 15 2014 11:19:12 AM

Saudi bans 50 names, including 'Rama', 'Alice' and 'Abrar'

Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, Mar 15: In a move aimed at safeguarding religious and social traditions of the Kingdom, the interior ministry of Saudi Arabia has banned 50 names, including names like Rama, Abrar, Alice, Elaine, and many more. Parents can no longer use these names for their newborns.

The Civil Status Department has said that out of the 50 names banned, some are not in line with social traditions while others are not appropriate in terms of religion or have a Western origin, as per a report in a Saudi newspaper.

The other names in the list include Binyamin (Arabic for Benjamin), said to be the son of Prophet Yakub (Jacob).

Names like Amir (prince) and Linda have also been banned, on the grounds that they are either contradictory or foreign to Saudi culture or religion, or inappropriate.

In short, names that are against religious sensibilities, or those related to Saudi royalty such as Malek (king) or Malika (queen), or those that are of western or foreign origin such as Alice and Linda, have been banned.

However, there are some names such as Abdul Naser that do appear to fit into any of the above categories, and hence it is unclear why they have been banned. Historically, Abdul Naser was an Arab nationalist ruler of Egypt, who was not in cordial terms with Saudi Arabia.

Names like Abdul Nabi (slave of the Prophet) and Abdul Hussain have been banned, as it is argued that 'Abdul' means 'worshipper of' or 'slave of' and such names hence go against the foremost belief of Islam that there is only one God, and He alone is to be worshipped. Thus most people use the name 'Abdul' with a surname from among the 99 names of Allah, for instance Abdul Aziz.


The list of banned names is as follows:

Malaak (angel)
Abdul Aati
Abdul Naser
Abdul Musleh
Nabi (prophet)
Nabiyya (female prophet)
Amir (prince)
Sumuw (highness)
Al Mamlaka (the kingdom)
Malika (queen)
Mamlaka (kingdom)
Tabarak (blessed)
Nardeen
Maya
Linda
Randa
Basmala (utterance of the name of God)
Taline
Aram
Nareej
Rital
Alice
Sandy
Rama (Hindu god)
Maline
Elaine
Inar
Maliktina
Lareen
Kibrial
Lauren
Binyamin (Arabic for Benjamin)
Naris
Yara
Sitav
Loland
Tilaj
Barrah
Abdul Nabi
Abdul Rasool
Jibreel (angel Gabriel)
Abdul Mu’een
Abrar
Iman
Bayan
Baseel
Wireelam
  

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Comment on this article

  • nida , india

    Mon, May 25 2015

    In india BABAs with name RAM have cheated many poor people and mainly illiterate women...good that it is banned in saudi also

    DisAgree [6] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Achhu, Mlore

    Sun, Mar 16 2014

    Need to revise the google name search

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammad Asif, keralaa

    Sun, Mar 16 2014

    All, Why Your thinking to much .This rules all people staying Saudi.No need Butler comment if don't interest come Saudi problem solve .

    DisAgree [36] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Mangalore / Doha

    Sun, Mar 16 2014

    We asians do not understand the importance of "abdul". When you pronounce a few names which is associated with almighty Allah, you have to compulsory added abdul to it. for eg. Abdul Samad, Abdul Azeem, Abdul Kareem and so on. But when the name is pronounced we always say "Samad or Azeem or Kareem..." which is grossly wrong.

    Not sure why the Saudi authorities have banned such names which do have abdul in it, but they will have reasons for it. Will be interesting if we are told the exact reason behind banning names which have Abdul in it.

    DisAgree [21] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sun, Mar 16 2014

    Is it a warning for the future parents to Name their child if they want to send to KSA?Suppose they want to extend this to foreigners also will be more Troubles.very sad,if everyday some new rules are coming up.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • NAVEEN OLIVER, UDUPI

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Allen, Mangalore's comment was superb...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Your report unclear on whether the ban on names is for Saudi citizens, expatriates, visitors, or for all.

    A name is a noun and it could one thing in one language but it could also mean something bad, vulgar, funny or controversial in different languages around the world. So imagine the confusion when all countries put out their own list of names that are banned.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af, mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Rama is not a Arabic or Muslim name
    If Suadis want to they can just change as Ramanulla

    DisAgree [13] Agree [48] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prasad, Bantwal

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Are Saudi nationalities naming their newborn babies by the name Rama ? Confused. Rama is very popular name in Thailand. There are places in Thailand called Rama1, Rama9 etc.....

    DisAgree [7] Agree [60] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Bangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Thaland is not a Islamic country.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Islam is a religion of peace,one must respect and tolerate each others religion.

    DisAgree [58] Agree [91] Reply Report Abuse

  • dam, mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    He He He.... yenchina marre....

    DisAgree [21] Agree [79] Reply Report Abuse

  • India First, India

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Its Saudi's internal matter. Let us concentrate only on our country !!!

    DisAgree [53] Agree [135] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abufaisal, Alkhobar/KSA

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    The govt move entirely welcomed here by Saudi citizens.

    DisAgree [130] Agree [57] Reply Report Abuse

  • mpk,

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    It's entirely their internal affair...! But for outsiders its a matter of fun!

    DisAgree [9] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse

  • Allen, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Hope they won't ban 'RAM' in computers!!

    DisAgree [35] Agree [395] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard Dlima, shirva

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Ha Ha... What a Comment Baba..

    DisAgree [7] Agree [83] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mystery, mlore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    It is for Saudi citizens, not the immigrants....Anyhow, what the politics with the name....???

    DisAgree [18] Agree [77] Reply Report Abuse

  • George A. Borromeo, Angelore, Mangalore, India

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Actually the Ban is applicable to Saudi Nationals who fancy keeping their off spring's names as Christians or Hindu or others (Kafir), But the problem may arise to Foreigners who avail Saudi Residential Visa's and live there. However, we can't blame them as it is their Country, and we go there merely to fill our coppers.

    DisAgree [20] Agree [95] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    This ban applies new born in KSA only. It is their internal understanding which may come against culture and traditions as KSA is an KINGDOM.

    DisAgree [58] Agree [153] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Clarification..

    This applies to those born in KSA and irrespective of nationality.They will not entertain/register such names mentioned as it is mandatory to register for Visa, PP etc....

    DisAgree [41] Agree [77] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen Achar, Bangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Does this man Ram Vilas Paswan, Ram Gopal verma, Ramachandra Bhandarkar, Ram Gopal Yadav, Ram Jetmalani.....cannot visit Saudi Arabia?

    DisAgree [35] Agree [166] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bryan, Bahrain

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    You never mentioned "Yoga guru Baba Ramdev"

    DisAgree [13] Agree [148] Reply Report Abuse

  • Adil Khan, Kasaragod/Saudi Arabia

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    It is applicable to citizens only, again the rule applies to naming new born Saudi nationals. No change of name of one who already has this banned name.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [68] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Amazing!!  People should know that every country is trying to safeguard their original religion,tradition,culture..INDIA is not different & its not communal

    DisAgree [68] Agree [137] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kumar, mudigere

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    India is a secular country not a monarchy or Islamic

    DisAgree [21] Agree [121] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinod, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    Why do you want to compare India with Saudi... set yourself some higher standards...compare with USA or UK.

    DisAgree [35] Agree [142] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Sat, Mar 15 2014

    No one contest this decision of banning 50 names since the decision has been taken by the Saudi Government.Hope they will not target to those who are already having these names.Thanq.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [150] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Saudi bans 50 names, including 'Rama', 'Alice' and 'Abrar'



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