Why no one is called Linda in Saudi Arabia
The kingdom still bans some foreign names, but other countries are loosening up
ABDELMADJID LABADI, who lives in Algeria, could have chosen an Arabic name for his daughter. But he wanted one that reflected his Berber ethnicity. His choices were limited: Algeria keeps a list of around 300 approved Berber names, a way of holding the minority in check. Mr Labadi wanted none of them. So for almost four years he left his daughter officially nameless, as he fought in court for the name he preferred. In July he finally won and his daughter formally became Tanila, Berber for dove.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Sorry, you’re not on the list”
From the September 19th 2020 edition
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