What is the meaning behind your username?

[Rayaan]

My username - which is also my real name - comes from the Arabic name "Ar-Rayyaan" (or "Al-Rayyaan") which per Islam is one of the eight gates of Paradise. Only those who observe fasting will enter through it. I should also mention that the English writing of this foreign name has variant spellings like Rayan, Rayyan, Rayyaan, Rayann, Rayanne, Reyann, Rayaan, or whatever, but it's the same word in Arabic.

As stated in a Hadith:

Narrated Sahl (ra) : The Prophet (sws – peace be upon him) said,

"Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayaan. On the Day of Resurrection, those who fasted will enter it and none except them will enter. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ They will arise and none except them will enter it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and none will enter it."

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120]

It can also mean something that is well-watered, lush, and beautiful:

Many Muslims have heard this hadith, but most don’t know the meaning of this name, “Ar-Rayyaan”. In fact I was at the masjid recently for a Ramadan class and I asked the Imam this question and he did not know. So when I got home I looked it up: the linguistic meaning of Ar-Rayyaan is something that is well-watered, and therefore lush, succulent and beautiful…

http://islamicsunrays.com/tag/al-rayan/

Al-Rayyan (another different spelling, but same word in Arabic) is also the name of a city in the state of Qatar.

It also means "the source of irrigation."

Al-Rayyan (Arabic: الريان‎) is the largest municipality in the state of Qatar. Al Rayyan means 'the source of irrigation' and as per Islam it also means 'a door in heaven' or 'one of the Gates of Paradise' .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Rayyan

It is also the name of a small village in Mecca, Saudi Arabia:

Ar Rayyan is a place with a very small population in the province of Makkah, Saudi Arabia which is located in the continent/region of Asia.

Cities, towns and places near Ar Rayyan include El Rayana, `Ayn ar Rayyan, Al Mubarak and Al Umbarak.

http://www.gomapper.com/travel/where-is/...cated.html

It's not over yet. The name also means "clever" or "brilliant" (in Arabic). It has the same meaning in Old English as well.

In Sanskrit, Rayan means "little prince." In India, it refers to a person with authority. In Jewish language, it means "Graceful." In the Persian language, it means "wise" (Ray meaning "wisdom") and it also means '"fragrant herb" or "sweet-scented herb."

In Arabic, the name is Rayyan used, meaning "clever," or "brilliant." Although it is often confused with the name Reyhan, it is distinctly different, carrying different meanings. Rayan is a first name given to males and females in the Islamic world, especially among the Arabs. In the Persian language it also means 'fragrant herb' or 'sweet scented herb'. In Arabic, 'sweet scented herb' is Rayhaan. Rayhaan is found in Surah Rahman, ayah 12; and Surah Waqi'ah, ayah 89.

Ray in Persian means "wisdom" (which comes from Middle Persian verb Raynitan) and Rayan means "wise" (which comes from Avestan word "Raonat") and is a first name given to males in Persia and Iran. It is different from Arabic Word "Rayhaan".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayan


So many meanings ...

[Rayaan]

By the way, I'm very doubtful about the meanings in the last Wikipedia link because I didn't find those meanings of my name anywhere else (especially "clever" and "brilliant"). I will look them up some more.

Anyways, cool thread.

[mostlysilent]

Mine is because I am mostly silent about the fact that I am an Atheist. It is not a secret really but I just don't discuss it with people that I do not know really really well most of the time. So when religious discussions come up I tend to just not engage in the discussion at all. This is however slowly changing as I get older. I am becoming less and less silent on the topic and less and less willing to listen to religious folks drone on about their religion without rebuttal. So my username is starting to not really fit me all that well. :p

[Red Celt]

Mine is because I am mostly silent about the fact that I am an Atheist. It is not a secret really but I just don't discuss it with people that I do not know really really well most of the time. So when religious discussions come up I tend to just not engage in the discussion at all. This is however slowly changing as I get older. I am becoming less and less silent on the topic and less and less willing to listen to religious folks drone on about their religion without rebuttal. So my username is starting to not really fit me all that well. :p

I've found that silence is often taken as agreement. I've been in situations where a FOAF has been spouting some nonsense at me and my diplomatic silence has been taken as a green-light to continue ratcheting-up their originally-stated position. That's when diplomacy crumbles, and a head-nod to my friend happens... letting them know that this particular friend of his isn't a mutual one. The silence is often broken with the words "Look, you racist fuck..."

[Edwardo Piet]

My username: The ultimate battle.

[mostlysilent]

Mine is because I am mostly silent about the fact that I am an Atheist. It is not a secret really but I just don't discuss it with people that I do not know really really well most of the time. So when religious discussions come up I tend to just not engage in the discussion at all. This is however slowly changing as I get older. I am becoming less and less silent on the topic and less and less willing to listen to religious folks drone on about their religion without rebuttal. So my username is starting to not really fit me all that well. :p

I've found that silence is often taken as agreement. I've been in situations where a FOAF has been spouting some nonsense at me and my diplomatic silence has been taken as a green-light to continue ratcheting-up their originally-stated position. That's when diplomacy crumbles, and a head-nod to my friend happens... letting them know that this particular friend of his isn't a mutual one. The silence is often broken with the words "Look, you racist fuck..."

Yes I agree. People mostly just assume I'm a Christian (most of the people I hang out with and work with are Christian) and when/if I do tell them I'm not they are often quite surprised and sometimes downright shocked.

[LastPoet]

I got mine from a girl that shot me down, I wrote her a poem but she wasn't interested in me, she told me "Honey, not even if you were the last poet on earth!", and I got the idea from there.

Oh well, it is as we say: "The 'no' is a sure thing, but 5 'no''s and 1 'yes', means 'yes'!

[c172]

I'm c172. I am on the .com as well. I remember that, on the day I signed up over yonder, I just could not think of anything good to have as a username. Simple as that.

So, although I'm more well known for other things, like being a soccer fan, and...well, an atheist...I am actually kind of an aviation buff. My uncle has worked for Boeing up in Seattle since the mid 80's, and my biological father (his brother, d. 1990) used to take me as a little kid to the foot of the runway at Lindbergh Field (SAN), where there was a parking lot you could park at to watch planes take off and land.

So, I left well enough alone. Good morning. I am c172. c as in Cessna, the Kansas builder of private airplanes.

[Clueless Morgan]

... I just like Clueless Morgan. And I feel pretty clueless a lot of the time so it fit.

It was a toss up between this and my other standard user name, Goddess Clio, which is one I use more for fandoms since it was born from a play on the Greek Muse Clio, muse of history and my whole schtick with fanfic is that I like to be canon-accurate. I might change it at some point, I don't know, but for now "Clueless" anything is more of an accurate portrayal of my perceived state of being so it works.

[NoraBrimstone]

OMG! I love Clueless Morgan! That movie is one of my favourites!

Who knew little Kevin Bishop would grow up to be a massive twat (who I love anyway)?