You can keep the F. Although "F" is not included in the conventional Japanese sound system, we use ファ(fa)　フィ(fi)　フェ(fe)　フォ(fo) especially for foreign originated words. folk=フォーク fence=フェンス fan= ファン fit=フィット fatima=ファティマ or ファティーマ :) --addendum-- Ah, Sammy is right. "Ti" (as in "tea", "T-shirt") sound is not in conventional sound system, too. But we do use ティ to express "ti". (Still elder people sometimes find it difficult to pronounce "ti", so say "chi" instead. ) Same thing with "tu" (トゥ), "di" (ディ), and "du"(ドゥ). lemon tea=レモンティー Disney land=ディズニーランド Yankee doodle=ヤンキードゥードゥル

"ali" would be "ari" and yes, it's probably best to use the "fu" and add the "a". there's no real "ti" sound either, so "ti" would become "chi" so after all that, "fuachima" would most resemble "fatima". (if you really want to get technical, you can make it "hoo-ah-chi-ma") that's a good one! =D

you'll have to use a b or a v ~~ i think (: