Amina

Amina is a 21st century new girl to the American female naming charts. First appearing in the year 2000, Amina has only climbed a couple hundred spots on the Top 1000 list. What’s interesting about this Arabic name is that it doesn’t have a particularly Eastern exotic sound to it; rather, this one is simple and straight-forward both in spelling and pronunciation. It’s also quite pretty and sounds “princessey” (like Ariel) to us – dainty with an understated beauty, yet strong and confident, as well. There’s a reason for this actually; Amina was the name of a 15th or 16th century Nigerian Princess, Amina of Zazzau (present day Zaria, Nigeria). The name Amina may have been embraced by African-Americans in honor of this woman who shares their African heritage. Amina’s legendary warrior-spirit and brave military exploits regarded her just as (if not more than) capable as a man. Whether you love this name in honor of Muhammad’s mother or the bad-ass African princess, or simply because you’re looking for an original name with a positive etymology – you’ve come to the right place. Underused and quite uncommon in the United States, Amina is an excellent choice for the discerning parent.