The Meanings Of The Names "Lamine" & "Yamal" (with two YouTube videos & information about Spanish Footballer Lamine Yamal)

Lamine Yamal: The 60 Minutes Interview

60 Minutes, Nov 30, 2025  #barcelona #sports #soccer

At age 18, Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal is regarded as one of the world’s best soccer players, just a few years after bursting onto the pro scene. He reflects on his roots and his rise to the top

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of Lamine Yamal and presents information about that Spanish football player with particular focus on the meanings of the names "Lamine" and "Yamal".

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and onomastics* purposes.

*from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onomastics
"Onomastics the study of proper names, including their etymology, history, and use.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/07/does-lamine-yamal-look-like-spaniard.html for another pancocojams post about Lamine Yamal entitled "Does Lamine Yamal "Look" Like A Spaniard?" & What That Question Even Means (YouTube video & comments)."

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THE MEANINGS OF THE NAME "LAMINE" ("LAMIN")

From https://www.wisdomlib.org/names/lamin 
"Meaning of the name Lamin

Background, origin and meaning of Lamin:

The name Lamin is a prominent masculine given name of Mandinka and West African origin, frequently used among Muslim populations in countries such as The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Mali. It serves as a regional variation of the Arabic name Al-Amin, which translates literally to "the trustworthy," "the faithful," or "the honest," derived from the Arabic root a-m-n, signifying safety, reliability, and security. Historically, this name is deeply revered in Islamic tradition as it was one of the primary epithets (al-Amīn) bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad, reflecting his reputation for integrity and moral uprightness before he began his prophetic mission. Due to its cultural significance and phonetic adaptation into local West African languages, it has become a staple name signifying virtue and dependability, often given to boys with the expectation that they will embody these honorable traits throughout their lives. Derivable or associated names include Amin, Al-Amin, Amadou, and Lamine.

[...]

Lamin is most popular in the following countries: Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia, Libya"

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THE MEANINGS OF THE NAME "YAMAL"
From https://www.ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/yamal
"The name "Yamal" has its origins in various cultural contexts, primarily associated with Middle Eastern and South Asian traditions. In Arabic, the name is derived from the root "y-m-l," which conveys meanings related to beauty and excellence. It is often interpreted as "beautiful" or "handsome," reflecting positive attributes. In some interpretations, particularly within Islamic culture, names that denote beauty or virtue are considered auspicious and desirable."...

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EXCERPT OF JULY 14, 2026 NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT LAMINE YAMAL
From https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7442585/2026/07/14/lamine-yamal-spain-world-cup-name-france/ "The story behind Lamine Yamal’s full name – and who he is named after"
By Dermot Corrigan, July 14, 2026
"Millions around the globe will watch Lamine Yamal and Spain play France in the World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

Among that number might be two figures who played an important part in the Barcelona superstar’s story — even if their exact role remains something of a mystery to the public.

Like most Spanish people, Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has two surnames — one inherited from his father, another from his mother. These are Nasraoui and Ebana.

However, like many Spanish footballers — including his former Barca coach Xavi and Barca team-mate Pedri — Spain’s No 19 goes by his first name professionally.

In this case, that first name has two parts, similar to Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, another ex-Barca figure.

For both Spain and Barcelona, the name on the back of Yamal’s shirt reads: Lamine Yamal. On his passport and national ID card, his full name reads: Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana.

Lamine is a popular name in Arabic, which can be translated as honest or trustworthy — it derives from Al Amin, which is also an honorary title once given to the prophet Muhammad.

Yamal is a variant of the widely used Arabic name Jamal — which can be translated as beauty, grace or charm. Most who have seen him play football would likely agree that they are fitting names.

Both names would also not be uncommon for children born in July 2007 to immigrants to Catalonia. Yamal’s father Mounir Nasraoui was born in Morocco, while his mother Sheila Ebana was born in Equatorial Guinea.

However, the twist in this story, widely reported in Spanish media, is that both names were chosen by this particular baby’s parents out of gratitude to two friends.

Ebana was 16 when their child was born, and she and Nasraoui would not have been the first (or the last) new parents to need financial assistance from those around them to deal with changed circumstances and extra responsibilities.

In this story, among those to really step up when they were required were two male family friends. One called Lamine, the other Yamal.

Out of appreciation for such support, the new parents decided to name their baby Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana.

A lot has happened to that little boy since, and it wasn’t just being photographed with Lionel Messi at five months old.

Aged 12, he left his home farther up the Catalan coast to join Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He has won La Liga titles with Barca and the 2024 European Championship with Spain. His Barca contract, agreed in 2025, is worth up to €40million (£33.5m; $45.3m) a year before tax, while he also has endorsement deals with global brands such as Adidas, American Eagle, Visa, Coca-Cola and Beats by Dre.

Along the way, Yamal has often spoken about how difficult his early years were, especially for his parents, and other family and friends in the majority-immigrant Rocafonda neighbourhood of Catalan city Mataro, which has one of the highest poverty rates in Spain.

“Look, my mum had me when she was 16,” Yamal said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER earlier in July. “My dad also had to go out and look for a life, sometimes picking up stuff in the streets to try to come back home with food for us. To me, this is real pressure, not what I have.”

His trademark ‘304’ goal celebration proudly recalls the final three digits of Rocafonda’s postcode, while in many media interviews he has recalled the sacrifices made by his parents to help him pursue his football.”…

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BONUS VIDEO-The Viral Messi & Baby Lamine Yamal Photo Explained A Football Story Like No Other

The Financial Express, Jul 16, 2026  #messi #lamineyamal #worldcup2026

Before Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal met on football's biggest stage, they had already crossed paths nearly two decades earlier. In 2007, a UNICEF charity raffle paired a young Messi with six-month-old Lamine Yamal for a photoshoot at Camp Nou.

Nobody could have imagined that the baby in Messi's arms would one day become Spain's brightest football star and face the Argentine legend in a FIFA World Cup Final.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tpItqCFfHo

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"The Jalen Generation" - Information About The African American Created Personal Name "Jalen" & Its Variant Spellings

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the origin and current popularity of the African American name "Jalen" and its various spellings.

The content of this post is presented for historical and etymological * purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to professional basketball player Jalen Rose whose popularity was the initial reason for the spread of this name for males and ,later, for females. Thanks also to all those with the name "Jalen" -regardless of how that name is spelled. 

 Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
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"Etymology" is the study of names.

Click the "names and nicknames" tag below to find more pancocojams posts on this subject. 

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ONLINE EXCERPTS ABOUT THE NAME  "JALEN"
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

ONLINE EXCERPT #1
From https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31309206/the-jalen-generation-how-jalen-rose-name-spread-world-sports "The Jalen Generation: How Jalen Rose's name has spread throughout the world of sports" by Eric Woodyard, Apr 28, 2021

"HEATHER MAYFIELD WAS five months pregnant when she went to Mercy Health Saint Mary's hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Brian, accompanying her for an ultrasound appointment on a chilly January day in 2000.

 Upon the revelation that their first child would be a boy, the couple quickly began considering names. As an homage to Brian's grandfather, the middle name Walker was locked in. But the first name was not so settled.

 "I was torn between Marcus and Spencer," Heather told ESPN.

 Eventually the discussion turned to Michigan basketball, and the famed Fab Five.

 "It kind of made sense because the Fab Five was so big when we were in college, and we watched every game when we were at school," Heather said. "Chris [Webber] was too common of a name, and then Ray [Jackson] was kind of an old man name, then you got Jimmy [King], so we didn't go with Jimmy. So I was like Jalen [Rose] ... Jalen wasn't too obscure, but it wasn't too common."

 "I liked Juwan [Howard] too," Brian Mayfield added.

 But Jalen it was, so on May 23, 2000, Jalen Walker Mayfield was born.

Twenty-one years later, after playing football at Michigan, Jalen Mayfield heard his name called in the 2021 NFL draft, as the No. 68 overall pick. So did Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle, who was selected No. 6 overall by the Miami Dolphins, where he'll be teammates with Jaelan Phillips, the former Miami Hurricanes defensive end who was selected with the No. 18 overall pick.

The story is the same in the NBA: Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs, G League Ignite's Jalen Green and Duke's Jalen Johnson are all projected as top-eight picks by Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz.

Forty-eight years ago, Jeanne Rose named her son Jalen -- and with a few dozen variants in pro sports and more on their way -- the "Jalen Generation" is in full effect.

"I always say that the name Jalen's a superpower," Jalen Rose said. "Because, if you're seeing this level of Jalens when you're watching college basketball and football, pro basketball and football, that's a small percentage of the society that actually carry the name."

IT'S BITTERSWEET FOR Rose. His mother died of lung cancer in February, two months before her 80th birthday on April 28, and the months since have been emotional. But it has also helped Rose come to an important realization.

"If she would've named me James or Jason, that wouldn't have hit the same. So she's the creator, and I'm the vessel that gets to carry it out," Rose said. "Names and words are extremely powerful. If people don't rock with you or they don't like you, you know the last thing they're gonna do is name their kid after you. That ain't got nothing to do with your rings. That ain't got nothing to do with where you went to college. Like, if I'm gonna name my son or daughter after you, I rock with you.".

Rose was tasked with going through his mother's personal belongings after her death. Searching through one of her drawers, he discovered a handwritten list on a white sheet of paper. Jeanne Rose didn't just follow the career of her son Jalen; she followed every Jalen.

 "I knew it was something that she realized had become bigger than her -- and clearly way larger than me," Rose said. "It's something now that really is gonna be what defines her legacy and mine. Something that has zero to do with the score of any game that I ever played."

Among the dozens of names on Jeanne Rose's list were Jalen Richard (Las Vegas Raiders), Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Jalen Mayfield (Michigan Wolverines), Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks) and Jalen Ramsey (L.A. Rams). She also kept track of the players who spelled their name differently, like Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown

According to ESPN Stats & Information, there are currently 32 players with some variation of the name Jalen on rosters across the NBA, NFL and other major North American professional sports. Nearly 80 Jalens played men's college basketball this past season.

While there was at least one Jalen born in the United States before Jan. 30, 1973, when Jeanne gave her son the name that was a combination of his father's (James) and his uncle's (Leonard), there's no doubt the popularity of the name can be tied directly to Rose's fame.

"When a name jumps fast, that means that there's something going on, that something is influencing it," said Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of BabyNames.com. "Why wasn't it anywhere on the charts before 1992? Well, of course, because it must have been influenced by Jalen Rose."

Rose debuted as part of Michigan's Fab Five in 1991. The very next year, Jalen cracked the top 1,000 most popular names, according to the U.S. Social Security Office of the Actuary for U.S. Births. The name debuted at No. 378. The next year, when Rose was helping the Wolverines reach a second consecutive national title game, it jumped to 216.

There are now nearly a dozen variant spellings of the name.

[...]

The original Jalen spelling has been a mainstay on the top 1,000 list since debuting, peaking at No. 106 in 2000, when Rose helped the Indiana Pacers reach the NBA Finals.

That same year, an alternate spelling appeared among the top 1,000 most popular names.

"J-A-Y-L-I-N, which is used for girls, popped onto the U.S. charts in the year 2000 and stayed there until 2015," Moss said. "What parents will do is because they want their own unique spelling, or maybe they want to feminize the name a little bit. They might put extra letters in there, or just change the spelling."

That was the case for Jaylyn Agnew, who became the WNBA's first Jalen when she played 12 games for the Atlanta Dream last season.

"Jalen has become a unisex name, an international name," Rose said. "I started to take pride in the fact that [I'm] 'the first Jalen.' There's a sense of responsibility that came with it."

[...]

In 2020, Jalen Suggs became the first athlete in Minnesota history to win Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football honors in the same season. A year later he led the Gonzaga Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season before his team lost to Baylor in the national championship game. His buzzer-beating overtime 3-pointer in Gonzaga's Final Four win over UCLA almost immediately became one of the most iconic shots in NCAA history, and he's now expected to be a top-five pick in July's NBA draft.

Throughout his journey, he's kept an eye on his peers who carry the same name, and over the years, they've found ways to differentiate themselves.

"I've kind of gotten a couple nicknames out of it, just because it's always one or two Jalens in the building," he said. "It's something we just kind of bond over."

Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson, born Aug. 31, 1996, is among the first generation of players who were named after Rose to reach the pro ranks. His father, Rick, played nine seasons in the NBA, including two as Rose's teammate with the Chicago Bulls. Jalen Brunson still remembers being introduced to the player who inspired his name as a kid visiting the former Bulls training facility, the Berto Center.

Jalen Brunson didn't recall meeting many other people who shared his name until reaching high school, but started hearing it more in college. No matter how many other Jalens hit the scene, though, Rick Brunson wouldn't let his son forget about his eponymous teammate, who has gone on to inspire a younger generation not only through his name and basketball career, but also through philanthropic work as well.

"It's pretty cool to see someone like that with the impact on and off the court and the things he's doing in his community back home," Brunson said. "It's pretty special so I've definitely got a sense of pride."...
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Jalen Brunson is the star player on the 2026 New York Knicks team. The Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. 

-snip-
The names that are highlighted in this article serve as links to information about those individuals.
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SHOWCASE EXCERPT #2
From https://www.nba.com/news/how-jalen-became-most-popular-name-nba How Jalen became the most popular name in the NBA

Created by Jalen Rose's mother, the name is the most popular in the NBA for the 3rd straight season.

by Jonathan Hartzell, NBA.com, January 30, 2025
"When Jalen Rose was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1994, he was the first-ever Jalen to enter the NBA. When he retired in 2007, he was still the only Jalen ever to play in the league.

 Then Jaylen Brown made his debut in 2016 and started a new wave. Since then, 26 more players named Jalen have played in the NBA. And it’s been the most popular name in the league for the last three seasons, with 17 Jalens on opening night rosters for 2024-25.

Did Jalen Rose inspire this wave of Jalens? The numbers say yes.

To celebrate Jalen Rose’s birthday today, let’s dig into the rise of the name created by Rose’s mother, Jeanne, as a combination of “James” and “Leonard”.

After Jalen Rose’s first season with the Fab Five at the University of Michigan in 1992, the name debuted at No. 378 on the list of most popular boys names in the USA. Then “Jaylen” with a “y” debuted at No. 668 the next year. Both names have stayed in the top 1000 ever since.

When you include all spellings of the name, there have been 28 players named Jalen to make the NBA. Here’s the complete list with each player’s debut season: [A chart with photos included in this article.].

For the 2024-25 season, there are 15 teams with a Jalen (or variation) on their roster – half the league. When you include all spellings, 3% of the NBA is named Jalen this season.

The NBA isn’t the only league with an influx of Jalens. There have been three in the WNBA, 58 in the NFL, 322 in NCAA basketball and 496 in NCAA football.

To put the rise of the name Jalen into perspective, the other most popular names in the NBA since 2000 have been Chris, Jordan and Josh — all names with origins that date back over 1,000 years.

The data makes it clear – Jalen Rose’s game and his mother’s innovation created the most popular name in the NBA and inspired the next generation of athletes."
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The words that are written in bold font are given that way in this article. 

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Folk Processed Forms Of The Name "Billie Jean" In Some Examples Of Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" Rhymes (complete reprint)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents comments about and text examples of versions of the rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that mention Pop star Michael Jackson and mention the name "Billie Jean" or folk etymology forms of the name "Billie Jean".  

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Michael Jackson for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those whose examples of this rhyme are included in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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This is a complete reprint with only minor changes of the 2014 pancocojams post with the same title.https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/forms-of-name-billie-jean-in-down-by.html. That post has 25 comments as of May 4, 2026 and is still open for comments.

Most of those comments are examples of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" that don't include any folk process forms of the name "Billie Jean".    

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/hey-mr-willy-and-other-folk-processed.html for the related pancocojams post "Hey Mr. Willy" And Other Folk Processed Forms Of "Frog Missed The Lily Pad" In "Down ByThe Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes (with geographical locations)"

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GENERAL OVERVIEW
"Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" (or similar names) is a very large family of playground (recreational) rhymes) that are very widely known in the United States. These rhymes are either played as a (usually two person) hand clap game or as a mildly competitive, group hand slapping game. The hand clapping game is usually played by children while the hand slapping version of this rhyme is often played by adults as well as children.

I refer to as "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" as those examples that include a reference to pop singer Michael Jackson or a reference to another celebrity (such as "Michael Jordan") whose name probably inadvertently substitutes for Michael Jackson in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes. Read an example of one of those rhymes in the comment section below.

Since the death of Michael Jackson in June 2009 some examples of these long forms of "Down By The Banks of the Hanky Panky" no longer refer to Michael Jackson but instead refer to another singer who some fans aren't fond of such as Lady Gaga & Miley Cyrus. Read two examples of those rhymes in the comment section below. Also, some examples of this rhyme that refer to Michael Jackson include "RIP" meaning "Rest In Peace" in parenthesis after that deceased Pop singer's name.

A number of "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" allude to the incident in 1984 when Michael Jackson's hair accidently caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi Cola commercial. However, my sense is that few children who recite those rhymes are aware that those rhymes are based on an actual historical event. Furthermore, most of these "long versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" document the 1980s cola wars between Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola products. Click http://www.businessinsider.com/soda-wars-coca-cola-pepsi-history-infographic-2011-11?op=1 to read about what is known as "the cola wars".

WARNING: Some examples of "Michael Jackson versions" of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" include homophobic language or homophobic references. However, the examples featured in this post don't contain such language.

To date (December 2023) , I've not found any examples of Michael Jackson versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" in any books of children's playground rhymes.

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OVERVIEW ABOUT THESE RHYMES WITH THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" OR WITH A FOLK PROCESSED FORM OF THAT NAME
Some "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" are long form versions of that hand clapping or hand slapping rhyme* that include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name. However, "Michael Jackson" versions of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" don't always include a reference to "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of that female name.

* "Hand slapping games" is my term for recreational elimination games that are performed in a circle. The people forming the circle slap the hands with each word and the last person whose hand is slapped in an iteration of a chant is out. This process continues until there are only two people left from that circle. Those people hand slap each other or play rock, paper, scissor until one person misses or is out which means the other person is the winner.

Here's an example of a Michael Jackson version of "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" which doesn't include any reference to "Billie Jean":

Down by the river with the hanky bankys
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
say an
epp
opp
epp
bop
bop
Skittle dittle curly pop
I pledge allegence to the flag
That Micheal jackson makes me gag
Diet Pepsi came to town
Coca-Cola pushed him down
Orange soda picked him up
Now I'm drinking 7 up
7up caught the flu
Now I'm drinking Moutain Dew
Moutain Dew fell off the moutain
Now I'm drinking from a fountian
Foutain Broke
Now I'm drinking plain old Coke
-Guest; http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=940347/15/2007 "Origins: Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky", July 15, 2007

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THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" 
In Michael Jackson's record "Billie Jean", the name "Billie Jean" is a female's first name. That first name is made up of two personal names- "Billie" and "Jean".  A personal name that is made up of two independent names is called a "double name". 

In the United States, most people have one first name. However, it's not completely out of the ordinary for females or for males to have a first name that is a double name.

The names "Billy Ray" and "Billy Bob" are examples of male double names. These male names are type casted (negatively perceived) as Southern (country i.e. poor or working class) male names. 

In contrast, the custom of giving double names to females is largely associated with the Catholic religion, particularly when the first name in that  double name is "Mary". Some common examples in the United States (particularly pre 1980s) are "Mary Ann", "Mary Jane" and "Mary Beth".

Similar to the male "Billie" double names, the female double name "Billie Jean" is mostly associated with the American South with probably the same negative connotations of the male "Billie" double names. 

The name "Billie" is rarely used for females. A famous woman with the name "Billie" was the African American jazz singer "Billie Holliday". However, probably very few children in 1982 when Michael Jackson wrote and recorded his record were familiar with Billie Holliday and unfortunately, even fewer children in the 2020s are familiar with Billie Holliday.

It's possible that a female who has the birth name (i.e. "government name"- the name on a person's official birth certificate) "Billie Jean" was named after their father whose name was "William" and whose nickname was "Billie", and also was named after their mother whose name was "Jean".

A female named "Wilhelmina" may have the nickname "Willie" which is almost always perceived as a male name.  I suppose it's possible that a female named "Wilhelmina" could have the nickname "Billie". 

(A Black woman who was a friend of my mothers when I was growing up in New Jersey was sometimes called "Willie". However, her name was "Willa Mae" (which is another female double name.) 

In the United States, the name "Jean" is almost always considered to be a female name, but the name "Eugene" and its shortened form "Gene" are always masculine names. 

When Michael Jackson wrote the song "Billie Jean" some Americans were familiar with the professional tennis star named Billie Jean King.In spite of that example, the name "Billie Jean" wasn't a common first name for females then and isn't a common name for females now. And that's the main reason why the name "Billie Jean" has been transformed into so many different words in examples of the "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes.

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FOLK PROCESSING THE NAME "BILLIE JEAN" IN "DOWN BY THE BANKS OF THE HANKY PANKY" RHYMES 

Folk processing (also known as "folk etymology") is a process in which the spelling or pronunciation of a word or phrase is changed or an unfamiliar word or phrase is replaced with  a more familiar word phrase or sound. Folk processing occurs because of mishearing, misremembering, or a mistaken assumption about that unfamiliar word or phrase.

One of the most common example of folk processing the name "Billie Jean" in "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes is writing "jeans" or "gene" instead of writing the name "Jean". 

Because the name "Billie Jean" is so rarely used in the United States, children who hear that name may mistake it for the word "jean" (meaning a very commonly worn type of pants ("blue jeans") .

Another common folk processed version of the name "Billie Jean" is "jelly bean". Since jelly bean candies are so familiar in the United States and the female name "Billie Jean" is so unfamiliar, it's not surprising that some children unknowingly substituted that name for "jelly beans".

I've expanded the category of "folk processing forms of the name "Billie Jean" in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes to not only include words such as "levi jeans" or a word such as "jelly bean" but to also include the use of the words "Billie Jean" in ways that suggest that the person doesn't know that "Billie Jean" is a name (let alone a female's name).  Two examples from this pancocojams compilation are "bilajean has no caffeine" and "jellybean is outa sight" 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S SONG "BILLIE JEAN"

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean



michaeljacksonVEVO, Uploaded on Oct 2, 2009

Music video by Michael Jackson performing Billie Jean. © 1982 MJJ Productions Inc.

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SELECTED RHYME EXAMPLES
These ten examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first. The line that includes the name "Billie Jean" or a folk processed form of "Billie Jean" is given in italics to highlight it and not because that line is emphasized when that rhyme is chanted.

Example #1
Down by the river near the hankey pank
where the bullfrogs jump from bank, to bank,
and they say E I O U,
your momma stinks and so do you
so ping pong ding dong
your daddy smells like king kong.
Ask your teacher what she wears,
polka dotted underwear.
Not too big and not too small,
just the size of city hall.
Michael Jackson went to town,
coca-cola brought him down.
Coca-cola brought him up,
now he's drinking 7up.
7up with no cafiene, now he's seein' belgain (pronounced beligene).
Belgain is outta sight,
now we're talking dynamite.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BAM!
-Veggie; cocojams.com [website no longer active] August 21, 2006

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Example #2
I learned this and forgot most of it (not complete! but it goes sort of like this....

Down by the bay in beverly hills
where the bull frog jumps from bank to banky
and the heeps hops, coffee shops,
we all drink mochas and we wear flip flops
(faster)
I pledge allegence to the flag
Michal jackson makes me gag
coca cola has cafeine and now we're talking billy jean
billy jean when out of style now lets sit and talk a while
diddy diddy donkey
daddy had a donkey
donkey died, daddy cried
diddy diddy donkey!
theres a party round the corner wont you please please come
bring your own cappuchinos and your own chewing gum
what is your boy friends name?______ (whoever the clap lands on has to come up with a name)

_______ will be there blowing kisses in the air saying I love ______ (who ever came up with the name) saying I love_____ saying O U T spells you are out!
OR
______will be there blowing kissed in the air singin' I... Love...Ma..Ma...Mia, singin' I love ma...ma...mia singin' O U T spells you are out!
-Guest,mooseormeece?, http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=94034 [hereafter given as Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, May 21, 2008]

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Example #3
down by the river side hanky panky
were the bullfrogs jump from bank
saying a-e-i-o-u bamboo
a-e-i-o-u bamboo
michel jakson came to town
coca cola shot hem down
dr.pepper fixed him
up now were talking 7-up
7-up has no cafene
now were talking bilajean
bilajean has no caffeine
no caffene no caffeine
1234 shut the door enless u ant to here more
-Guest, maeson A., Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky, June 27, 2008

****
Example #4
Down by the river with the hank to pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes oops
chilly willy ding dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
michael jackson sings so bad
coca cola roots me up
now we're talkin 7Up
7Up has no caffine
now we're talkin billy gene
billy gene whent outta sight
now we're talkin bobby white
bobby white went out of town
riding on a rocket
stuck a feather in his hat
and called it hershey's chocolate"
-Guest, Deana Ashley :); http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81350 "I’m Rubber; You’re Glue", August 24, 2008
-snip-
"out of sight" = a 1960s African American originated vernacular phrase that meant "exceptional". However, in these "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" rhymes "out of sight" is almost always given its literal meaning of "someone or something that people are unable to see".

****
Example #5
Down by the bank by the hanky pank
where the bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
singing eeeps ops ohps ooops
listen to the rythym of the ding dang dong
michael jackson went to town
pepsi cola shot him down
dr. pepper fixed him up
now we're talking 7up
7up has no caffiene
now we're billie jean
billie jean went down the street singing
dooo waaah diddy didy dum diddy dooo
-Guest; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; November 6, 2009

****
Example #6
Down by the bank of the hanky panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
To the Hip Hop Shirley Pop,
I pledge allegience to the flag,
of Michael Jackson makes me gag,
Coca-Cola burnt his butt,
Now he's drinking Seven-Up
Seven-Up has no caffeine,
So Now he's drinking Jelly Bean
Jelly Bean is out of sight,
So Now he's drinking Sprite
Spell it!
S-P-R-I-T-E!
-Guest, Madison from Metro Detroit, Michigan; Mudcat: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky Rhymes; March 31, 2010

****
Example #7
mine goes like:down by the banks of hanky tank
were the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank
saying eeps ipes opes ums
skiddle diddle dong
my brother smells like king kong
pledge allegiance to the flag
micheal jackson is a rat
coca cola blew up
now im drinking 7up
7up has got caffeine
no im drinking billy jean
billy jean is out of sigh
now im drinking sunny light
say 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
your out
-MegaGirlzation, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=O2CSWmfiNKM; 2010
-snip-
"no" is probably a typo for the word "now".
"out of sigh" is a folk etymology form of the phrase "out of sight".
"your" = "you are"

****
Example #8
down by the banks of the hanky panks
fe fi fo fom me say ding dang dong
i pledge allegiance to the flag
Michel Jackson makes me gag
cocola fizes up
now i am talking 7up
7up has no caffeine now
i am talking jelly bean
jellybean is outa sight
now i im talking dynamite
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 boom
and who ever boom land on is out
-Kissyxblythe; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=iqhvCN0Uvfk, 2011

****
Example #9
Down by the banks of the hanky pank,
where the bullfrogs jump from bank 2 bank,
sayin eeps, ipes, opes, oops,
listen to the rhythm of the ding dang dong.
Micheal Jackson went to town,
pepsi cola shot im down
Dr Pepper fixed im up,
now were talkin 7up
7up has no caffine,
now were talkin billy jean.
billy jean was walking down the street singin,
Ooh, I diddy diddy dum diddy doo.
Lincoln, Lincoln I been thinkin.
what on earth have you been drinkin
is it whiskey is it wine
OMG its turpentine 123...9
-MufinCat123, http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, 2011

****
Example #10
Its this:

Down by the banks of the hanky panky.
Oops i said yo booty stanky.
Oooh Ahh Skit Skat,
big fat dirty rat.
I pledge alegence to the flag.
Michael jackson is my dad.
Coca cola burning up,
now its time for 7-up.
7-up had no cafine,
now its time for Billy jean.
Billy jean went out of town riding on a pony,
stuck a feather in his head
and called it macaroni.
-uallnomecuz; http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=ZC8INeM0w5A, January 2012

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

How The Female Name "Fatou" , A West African Form Of The Arabic Name "Fatima", Was (Is?) Used As An Insult For Black Females In France

Edited by Azizi Powell,

This pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2015 Lipstick Alley discussion thread about so-called "Ghetto names" in the United States. 

This excerpt showcases a brief comment exchange about the use of the West African female name "Fatou" as a slur against Black African females in the nation of France.

Addendum #! of this post quotes an AI Overview write-up from November 16, 2025 about this subject.

Addendum #2 of this post presents selected comments from a Reddit.com discussion thread about the word "kehlouch". That word is found in the Lipstick Alley.com comment that is given in  this post as comment #7 in that main potion of this post.   

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and onomastic ** purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
These comments refer to the geographical area in Africa called the Maghrib. Here's some information about the Maghrib from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MaghrebheMaghreb (/ˈmɑːɡrəb/;[2] Arabic: ْاَلْمَغْرِب, romanized: al-Maghrib, lit. 'The place where the sun sets' [ælˈmaɣrɪb] ⓘ), also known as the Arab Maghreb ...  is the western part of the Arab world. The region comprises western and central North Africa, including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. The Maghreb also includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara. As of 2018, the region had a population of over 100 million people"...

** "Onomastic" means the study of the origin, history, meaning, and use of proper names. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/are-fatima-and-fatou-problematic-names.html  for the closely related pancocojams post "Are Fatima And Fatou Problematic Names In The United States?"

****
DISCLAIMER
The information and opinions that are given in these comments are those of the commenters.

I know nothing about France and therefore, I can't substantiate or refute these 2015 comments. If they were true, I'm not able to describe the attitudes and interactions between these populations and genders since 2015.

If you have any information about this subject, please share it in the comment section of this pancocojams post. Thanks in advance.   

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAME "FATOU"
From AI Overview"

"Fatou is a name of West African origin, primarily associated with the Wolof language spoken in countries like Senegal and The Gambia. The name is also common in other West African countries and among Mandinka speakers, and it has roots in the Arabic name Fatima.

Wolof: In Wolof, the name is widely used and is often given to girls born on Friday, as Friday is considered a holy day in Islam.

Mandinka: The Mandinka people often use the more formal version, Fatoumata.

Other regions: The name is also found in other West African countries and diaspora communities.

Arabic roots: The name is a West African adaptation of the Arabic name Fatima, the name of Prophet Muhammad's daughter."

****
DESCRIPTION ABOUT HOW THESE COMMENTS ARE PRESENTED
"Lipstick Alley.com prides itself as being the oldest and largest Black discussion thread on the internet. While there are some non-Black commenters on that discussion thread, almost all of the comments are Black people from various nations throughout the world. The language that is used in that discussion thread is English.

**
WARNING: Lipstick Alley.com discussion threads often include profanity.

When profanity is quoted on this pancocojams blog, I use incomplete spelling (indicated by an asterisk) after that word and an editorial note under that comment.

**
These discussion thread comments are presented in chronological order with numbers given for referencing purposes only. Those numbers aren't the same as the numbers that those comments have in that long (10 page) discussion thread. 

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS LIPSTICK ALLEY.COM DISCUSSION THREAD
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/someone-explain-to-me-why-names-like-shaniqua-keisha-are-considered-ghetto.877825/ 

1. Thread starterFlvcko tha pmf , Start date: May 25, 2015
"Someone explain to me why names like "shaniqua,keisha ..." are considered ghetto?

 Is it because its associated black people? I dont get it."

****
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/someone-explain-to-me-why-names-like-shaniqua-keisha-are-considered-ghetto.877825/page-5

2. Queen Regina, May 26, 2015
"You answered your question.

In France it is the same. Girls named Fatou, Maimouna, Chainez, Fatima, Soraya, Aissata are considered ghetto because those who have these names are Black or Maghrebis.

In fact, dudes like to call Black girls "Fatou" or "Fatou flinguée" (Trash Fatou). And most of these dudes that make these jokes a French Black men (they are the most f--ked* up Black dudes I have ever seen). Even though you can find this name in the Quran.

Like one day my mom was called Fatou on the streets by Maghrebi dudes and their Black male friends were laughing. My mom not only put those Maghrebi dudes in their place, she said to the Black guys that they are weak af and those north african friends would never thrash their sisters. :\

There are also Congolese name French twitter like to joke about: Altesse (Royalty), Dieudonné (God Given), Maman Chérie (Lovely mum). They are all in French.”
-snip-
This word is dully spelled out in this comment.

**
3. Reply to Queen Regina from Sofie, May 26, 2015
"This is the exact point I was making. In America, it is called um foo-foo. I have no idea why people think any type of name will get a pass just because it has a "meaning".

That is just NOT true! Hate to break it to people!"

**
3. Reply to Sofie from Queen Regina,May 26, 2015
"Wait. So you are saying that parents should not call their daughters " Fatou" 

**
4. Reply to Queen Regina from Sofie, May 26, 2025 
'Parents can call their kids whatever they want! MY point in that MANY names get teased and ostracized, even those that have legit meanings. This is something that many black americans do not realize."

**
5. Reply to Sofie from Queen Regina, May 26, 2015
"Oh yeah than I agree with you.

But the f--ked* up part in France, is that they know the meaning ! Most of those who make fun of these names are African men ! And then of course, white folks jump on the bandwagon and make fun of these names too"
-snip-
This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

 **
6. Calypso Indigo, May 26, 2015
"Do black men in France get the same treatment? Or just black women? Do blacks and magheribs get along well in France?"

**
7. Reply to Calypso Indigo (former screen name Chocolatea) from Queen Regina, May 26, 2015
"Well first of all, Black men in France are weak af. No unity, want to have a Marie or a Soraya, trashes Black women 24h.

They like to be friend with Maghrebis but maghrebis like to make fun of them and they would be the first to stab them on the back to help a maghrebi brother.

Black men in France are call "kahlouch" by maghrebis which is a pejorative way of saing Black. Maghrebis families do not accept Blacks even though they are muslim Blacks

Black muslim guys wants to be maghrebis so bad, the others they want also want to date maghrebis girls, white passing west indies girls (exxoticals) or white girls.

They even have an hashtag on twitter to make fun of BW #Noirte . "Noirte" is a childish way of saying "Noire"/Black Women.

They still suffer racism, that is why they are frustrated, they prefer to kiss other people's ass. While BW will be the first to defend them."
-snip-
This is the complete exchange in that discussion thread about those names being used as insults or otherwise looked down upon at that time in France. 

Read information about the word "kahlouch" in this post's comment section below.

****
ADDENDUM #1- AI OVERVIEW ABOUT THIS SUBJECT
given as a result of my November 16, 2025 question "Was and/or is the name "Fatou" used to insult or look down upon Black females in France?"

AI Overview
"There is no evidence that the name "Fatou" itself is used to tease or taunt Muslim women in France as a widely recognized or specific slur. The name is an honorable and common given name, primarily of West African origin, derived from the Arabic name Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

However, the question touches on the broader context of Islamophobia and racial insults that do occur in France, sometimes targeting Muslim women based on their perceived origins or religious attire. Slurs in France generally tend to be ethnic or religious slurs like bicot or bougnoule (targeting Arabs/Muslims generally), or slang terms such as beur/beurette (which are complex but can be used in a derogatory way).

The name "Fatou" is deeply embedded in West African Muslim cultures, carrying connotations of blessing and good fortune. While a person named Fatou could unfortunately be subject to general racist or Islamophobic abuse, the name itself is not a specific, established term of abuse in the French language or slang.

Related links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beur"

****
ADDENDUM #2 -SELECTED COMMENTS FROM REDDIT.COM'S ASK MORROCO FORUM

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only and don't conform to the numbers that these comments have in thats discussion thread.

From https://www.reddit.com/r/Morocco/comments/1h73eqq/kehlouch_meaning_i_am_concerned 
"Kehlouch meaning, I am concerned."

1. Vlad_Tz, 2024
"I am from East Africa, one of my Moroccan friends usually writes long texts to me with words I don't understand. One of them is Kehlouch or something like that.

What does it mean? He usually adds a laugh emoji after that..he never tells me what it means even when I confront him about it. What could it possibly mean?"

**
2. Elmapuche, 2024
"Not the best nickname, it basically means the black guy.

EDIT: As for the insult part.. Honestly, it depends. Moroccan culture is quite unique and tends to be more tolerant of nicknames based on physical traits. For example, a fat man might be called “fat,” a skinny person could be nicknamed after a brand of cigarettes, and Chinese people (or even all Asians) might be called “Chinwi.” While this might sound offensive in some cultures, it’s often not meant that way in Moroccan culture.

Similarly, in South America, it’s common for skinny women to be called “Flaca,” blond people “Rubio,” or other nicknames based on appearance or local context, and these terms aren’t typically seen as offensive.

I wouldn’t necessarily reconsider the friendship over this, but it’s definitely worth having a conversation to better understand their intentions and clarify how it makes you feel."

**
3. Vlad_Tz, OP [ Original poster], 2024
"Is it used as insult?"

** 
4. Chamrockk, 2024
"depends on the context and relationship with the person"

**
5. Vlad_Tz, OP [ Original poster], 2024
"He's a friend, we met when Raja was in Tanzania about a year ago. We only discuss serious things and sometimes political stuff i.e Ukraine Russia war etc."

**
6. [deleted], 2024
"Ka7louch mean black, or ni--er* and it’s a racist word, the one who tell you no it dépend doesn’t understand what racism mean."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
7. Saad1950, 2024
"Tbh Moroccan culture is strange in this regard where we didn't get the racism is bad update lmfao. People call black people 3ezzi here all the time which is like an almost 1:1 version of the n word. Ke7louch on the other hand is like what a mom would call a little black kid as a form of endearment. It's a diminutive of the word k7el which means black. There is also 3ezzi balala lmfao and many more. One time I heard nsib dlam which was pretty funny.

 Point is, name-calling in Morocco is pretty standard, and your friend might not even realise he's being racist and just picked out a nickname for you. At least he's not straight up calling you 3ezii lmfao.

 I'd also like to add that this doesn't also apply to black people. You also have the classic 3robi vs shel7 racism. Where the other will call each other derogatory terms like "wa shel7" "wal l3robi". To the point where 3robi in my head now is just a straight up insult lmfao cuz I grew up with that meaning.

 Point is, Morocco needs social change, but we got a truck load of problems to address before really getting into that"

**.
8. marouane_tea, 2024
"N-word got its bad rep for being used to designate African slaves in the US in a bad way. 3azzi comes from 3ziz, meaning "dear one" as a form of brotherhood. So 3azzi is the opposite of N-word."

**
9. Saad1950, 2024
"No no, etymology of the word here could not matter less. It's how it's used, which is very reminiscent of the n word's usage."

**
10. http-Iyad, 2024
"it has nothing to do with slave ??

 Seriously what's wrong with you ? It means black person

 Khel/kehla is the color for black ( feminine and masculine )

Kehlouch/ kehloucha is black person ( masculine and feminine )

Khalech / kehlouchat is the plural ( feminine and masculine )

Literally stop getting ignorant and oversensitive'

**
11. Future-Pair-2023, 2024
"Dude, this person for sure doesn’t speak darija if they think it’s slave or they are just a bad person spreading hate and misinformation… if u don’t like the nickname tell your friend it makes you uncomfortable if he still doesn’t stop or take u srsly unfriend him. Not worth"
-snip-
Here's information about the word "Darija" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic 
"Moroccan Arabic (Arabic: العربية المغربية الدارجة, romanized: al-ʻArabiyyah al-Maghribiyyah ad-Dārija[3] lit. 'Moroccan vernacular Arabic'), also known as Darija (الدارجة or الداريجة[3]), is the dialectal, vernacular form or forms of Arabic spoken in Morocco.[4][5] It is part of the Maghrebi Arabic dialect continuum and as such is mutually intelligible to some extent with Algerian Arabic and to a lesser extent with Tunisian Arabic. It is spoken by 91.9% of the population of Morocco, with 80.6% of Moroccans considering it their native language.[6]

While Modern Standard Arabic is used to varying degrees in formal situations such as religious sermons, books, newspapers, government communications, news broadcasts and political talk shows, Moroccan Arabic is the predominant spoken language of the country and has a strong presence in Moroccan television entertainment, cinema and commercial advertising."...

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Are Fatima And Fatou Problematic Names In The United States?

Senegalese vocalist Fatoumata Diawara's song "Bissa" from her 2011 CD entitled "Fatou" :

Uploaded by worldcircuitltd on Aug 10, 2011

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases one YouTube video that is still available at the time of this publication and presents comments from the discussion thread of another YouTube video that was available in 2011 when I first published the post that is largely reprinted here.

This post also presents information and opinions about the female names Fatima and Fatou (and variants of these two personal female names, with special consideration about whether having one of these names would be problematic for females in the United States.

The content of this post is presented for onomastic* and socio-cultural purposes.

*onomastic means the study of the origin, history, meaning, and use of proper names.  

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to  Fatoumata Diawara who is featured in this video and thanks to all those who are  quoted in this post.

To all those whose name is Fatima, Fatou, or variant forms of those names, wear your name proudly and be a credit to your name.
-snip-
Almost all of this pancocojams post is a complete reprint of this post that I wrote and published on November 15, 2011: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/06/comments-about-some-west-african-first.html . As of November 15, 2025, thqt post had 7 comments in its discussion thread (from visitors and from me). I've included all of these comments in the Addendum to this post.

*The beginning portion of this statement was what I wrote at the end of my brief essays on personal names that I published in my cocojams.com names page. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/11/how-female-name-fatou-west-african-form.html  for the closely related pancocojams post "How The Female Name "Fatou" , A West African Form Of The Arabic Name "Fatima", Was (Is?) Used As An Insult For Black Females In France".

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAME "FATOU"
From AI Overview"

"Fatou is a name of West African origin, primarily associated with the Wolof language spoken in countries like Senegal and The Gambia. The name is also common in other West African countries and among Mandinka speakers, and it has roots in the Arabic name Fatima.

Wolof: In Wolof, the name is widely used and is often given to girls born on Friday, as Friday is considered a holy day in Islam.

Mandinka: The Mandinka people often use the more formal version, Fatoumata.

Other regions: The name is also found in other West African countries and diaspora communities.

Arabic roots: The name is a West African adaptation of the Arabic name Fatima, the name of Prophet Muhammad's daughter."
-snip-
This section of this pancocojams post wasn't part of the 2011 version of this post.

It's important to note that everyone in the United States with an Arabic name or a name that was inspired by an Arabic name isn't Muslim.   

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES (Azizi Powell)
These notes were written on September 8, 2011 and are given "as is" except for reformatting for this November 2025 publication to increase readability.] 

I'm a big fan of African Americans giving traditional African and Arabic names to their children or creating a name that "sounds" African. But there are some African/Arabic sounding names that I think it's better to avoid just because of the negative associations that their sounds are likely to have in the United States and in other Western nations. 

One example is the name "Tamu", a Swahili female which means "sweetness". In the 1970s there was a Black doll that was marketed named "Tamu", but that doll didn't sell well. I've always maintained that part of the reason why so few Black mamas who were desperately seeking Black dolls for their daughters didn't embrace that doll was that she had a very short fro. The problem with that is that a big part of the play activities that little girls-including little Black girls-look forward to doing with dolls is styling their hair. And you can't style a short afro. The other major problem with the name "Tamu" (tah-moo) is how it sounds. No one wants their child to have a name that ends in the sound a cow makes.

The Arabic name "Fatima" and its variant forms "Fatimah", "Fatma" are other female names that have a positive meaning in other nations but might be best not given to American girls. "Fatima" literally means "weaned" (a baby girl who is no longer breast feed). That name has a very positive significance among Muslims because it was the name of a favorite daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. But among Americans, the first part of the name Fatima, Fatimah, Fatma sounds the same as the word "fat"*. In my opinion, giving your child a name that sounds like "fat" is setting her up a life of teasing and taunting.

*I know two African American women who adopted the name "Fatimah" as adults. It happens that both of these woman are converted Muslims. However, many Americans who have an Arabic name aren't Muslim.

Although the traditional way Arabic speakers pronounced/pronounce Fatima (Fatimah) is FAH-mah, following American pronunciation customs, that name is usually pronounced "fah-TEE-mah".

"Fatou", (fah-too) "Fatu" (fah-too), "Fatoumata" [unsure about the traditional pronunciation] and "Fanta" (fahn-tah?) are West African forms of the Arabic female name "Fatima"-West African culture has been influenced by Arabic culture since the 11th century AD. Of those names, "Fanta" is the only one that doesn't have that "fat" beginning element. 

Even though "Fanta" is a brand name of a carbonated soft drink, I don't think that has any built in problems for American females. Of course, it's just my opinion that those names are problematic in the United States (and in other "Western" nations).

I won't get upset if you don't agree. However, as I write for each name entry on my Cocojams Names & Nicknames pages, if Fatima, Fatou, or other variants of those names is your name, I hope that you wear your name proudly."
-snip-
This page on my Cocojams website Names And Nicknames has more comments about those two names.
-snip-
This note is added onNovember 16, 2025:My multi-page cultural website cocojams.com was online from January 1, 2001 to November 2014 when I voluntarily retired it. Some content from that website can be found on this pancocojams blog.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
Here's a YouTube video (sound clip) of the delightful children's song by the Senegalese band Touré Kunda entitled "Fatou Yo" (My Name Is Fatou")

AFRICA Music /Best of all time : TOURE KUNDA: Fatou Yo



WitnessTheDevine, Uploaded on Jul 16, 2011

This is an african song , a little all , Almost every generation in Senegal loved it .....Every generation sang it , ,, and it still rocks ......
-snip-
Here's a summary of that song from Best Children's Music [site no longer available on December 13, 2017]
"Toure Kunda (TOUR-ray KOON-dah) / Senegal / Fatou Yo (I Am Fatou) sung in Mandingo. Fatou is a little girl who lives in Senegal, a country in Africa. She likes to dance with the other boys and girls in her village, and dreams about singing with baby elephants and giraffes. The song is a sikko (SEE-koh), a dance where people get in a line and hold their hands towards the sky or hold the waist of the person in front of them. Senegal is a country in Western Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean. There are many different tribes and ethnic groups, each with a unique culture. Languages spoken include Wolof, Fulani, Serer and Mandingo, but the common language is French because Senegal used to be a colony of France."
-snip-
Revised December 13, 2017
Here are the lyrics to this song from http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3134.

"Fatou yo
Children's Song

Fatou yo si dia dialano
Fatou yo si dia dialano
Fatou yo si dia dialano
Fatou yo si dia dialano

Fatou faye faye fatou
Fatou kélémen dio
Fatou yo si dia dialano
Fatou faye faye fatou
Fatou kélémen dio
Fatou yo si dia dialano

Boutoumbélé boutoumbélé
Boutoumbélé boutoumbélé
Boutoumbélé boutoumbélé
Boutoumbélé boutoumbélé
Boutoumbélé o ma mi se ra
O Ma mycasse boutoumbélé
O ma mi se ra
O Ma mycasse boutoumbélé"
-snip-
This website gives the language used in this song as "Balanta". "Balanta" is a language from the African nation of Guinea-Bissau. Note that another website quoted above indicates that the language that is used for this song is Mandingo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour%C3%A9_Kunda gives this information about Touré Kunda:
"Touré Kunda is a Senegalese band noted for their musical versatility and political activism. Their 36-year career encompasses recordings in over six languages and collaborations with well-known musicians such as Carlos Santana and Talking Heads. They have had considerable success in Africa and Europe and are active in social causes such as Children's rights and advocates for the homeless

[...]

Biography[edit]
Born twenty-two days apart in 1950 in Ziguinchor in Casamance, Senegal, Ismaïla and Sixu Tidiane Touré were introduced to music by their elder brother Amadou, a singer and musician.
They moved to Paris to complete their musical education. They worked their way up in the Parisian scene. The group sings in Soninké, Wolof, Fula, Mandingo, Diola, and Portuguese creole, reflecting the multilingual mixture of the people of Casamance."...
-snip-
Given this information, I think that mamalisa.com is mistaken about the language that is used for this song. Instead of Balanta, I think the language is Mandingo.

These same non-English lyrics are found as subtitles in this YouTube sound file: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-eEzPu6M-U:

Here's the English translation from that mamalisa.com website:

"I am Fatou
Children's Song
(English)

I am Fatou, pretty Fatou,
I am Fatou, pretty Fatou,
I am Fatou, pretty Fatou,
I am Fatou, pretty Fatou.

Fatou oh, oh Fatou,
Like all the children of the world
I am Fatou, pretty Fatou.
Fatou oh, oh Fatou,
Like all the children of the world
I am Fatou, pretty Fatou.

I am happy and will surely grow up
I am happy and will surely grow up
I am happy and will surely grow up
I am happy and will surely grow up
I will grow up like everybody else
Like the little elephants and the little giraffes
Like everybody else
Like the little elephants and the little giraffes."

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ADDENDUM- COMMENTS FROM THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS PANCOCOJAMS POST

These comments are re-printed as is from the September 8, 2011 pancocojams post:

https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/fatima-and-fatou-problem-names-in-usa.html

Fatima and Fatou-Problematic Names In The USA?

1. aziziSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM

   Note: The following comments are from a facebook friend of my who gave me permission to repost them on this page along with her name.
   
   
   I read your posting. I have to disagree and here's why: The name does exist in the west: Our Lady of Fatima in Spain. We just say Fateema because English pushes the accent to the second syllable.
   -Afi Scruggs; 9/8/2011
   
   **
   
   And secondly, the pronunciation isn't "Fat-ou", it's Fah-tou, so the name doesn't sound like the word fat at all. If anything, we'd Anglicize the name by calling the person "fah-Tu" and accent the last syllable.
   -Afi Scruggs; 9/8/2011

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   aziziSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:33 PM

   Here are my responses to Afi Scruggs' comments [posted as is under my facebook name cocojams jambalayah)
   
   The underlying reason for that post was to spark thought about the possible social consequences of personal names and the ways that culture influences which names people like or dislike. I'm okay with disagreements. Afi would you please post your comments on that blog or please give me permission to do so?
   
   I'm aware that the pronunciation that is used for Fatima in the USA isn't the traditional pronunciation used in the Middle East, Africa, and some Muslim influenced parts of Europe such as Spain. With regard to that name and Fatou, I think its easy for kids, teens, and adults who are in to teasing/taunting to grap on to the English words "fat and "fat too" even though the fa element is supposed to be pronounced fah. And the pronunication Fah-tu or fah-Tu is easy to convert into "fat too". (Btw, I think the American way of pronouncing two syllable names is to place the emphasis on the first syllable).
   
   Anyway, if an adult has a given name that other people don't like, they can say to hell with those people and keep on keepin on. But if they don't like their given name and/or think that their given name doesn't fit them, they can always informally or legally change their name. (That's what I did, inflormally, in part because I felt that name didn't fit me who I had become). But that's kind of hard to do as kids/teens except for nicknames.

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   luckyfatimaSeptember 14, 2011 at 10:48 AM

   I am a white convert to Islam and have legally changed my name to Fatima. I come from Texas in an area with a very heavy Mexican and Mexican-American population, so I often hear my name pronounced in Spanish as Fátima. This Spanish pronunciation is close to the pronunciation used by South Asians, the stress is correct and only the /i/ is reduced a bit more in the South Asian version based on the Arabic spelling (my husband is Pakistan origin). I like this pronunciation better than the Arabic which has is more like Fawtma. I don't correct people when they say Fateeema. I do agree that kids/racists etc will focus on the Fat part. I had that happen to me online where someone called me 'Fats' or 'Fatty' in a retorting comment, which is really rude. So much baggage attached to all of this stuff. I love the name Fatimata/Fatoumata. I recognize it as West African, but don't know where the extra syllable or phonetic change from /i/ to /ou/ come from. In Arabic you can call Fatima Fatoum as a nickname. Anyway, interesting post, and very interesting to read about the name from a West African angle.

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   aziziSeptember 14, 2011 at 4:35 PM

   Thanks for your comment luckyfatima! As you shared, there's a lot of baggage that comes with some names with are otherwise aesthetically pleasing and are rich in spiritual, social, and historical value.

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   aziziDecember 7, 2011 at 10:05 AM

   I want to emphasize that in writing this post on the names Fatou and Fatima (and their variant forms) I was not disparaging those names or the persons who are or were so named.
   
   As the history of the name Fatima attests, those names are quite honorable. Also, I just became acquainted with the Miss Africa USA Pagent*. The 2010 winner of that pagent was Fatoumata (Fifi) Soumah of Guinea, West Africa.
   My concern was and is that people named Fatou, Fatima, or Fatoumata are likely to be teased by Americans who are unfamiliar with those names.
   
   [Update: November 16, 2025] This comment had a link for more information about the Miss Africa USA Pagent, but that link is no longer active.

6. AyoodeleJanuary 8, 2016 at 6:42 AM

7. Actually Fanta is a traditional African name out of guinea and it translates to "Beautiful Day"

   ReplyDelete
   Replies

   1. 
      Azizi PowellJanuary 8, 2016 at 8:38 AM

      Greetings, Fanta Ayodele.
      
      Thanks for sharing information about the name "Fanta". You wrote that "Fanta is a traditional African name out of guinea and it translates to "Beautiful Day". Which language is this?
      
      I recognize the name "Ayodele" as Yoruba. Is this your birth name and is it a last name (surname)? I ask because I wonder if Yoruba people and/or other African people you may be familiar are given traditional African birth names from more than one African ethnic group.
      
      I hope that you or someone else who can comment about this response to this question. I ask this with all due respect.
      
      Best wishes!

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