🧒 Raising children (tarbiyah) · #24
How should one choose a good name for a child according to Islam?
Choose a name with a good meaning that is easy to say and will not embarrass the child as an adult; a name need not be in Arabic.
The Prophet ﷺ said that the names most beloved to Allah are ʿAbdullah and ʿAbd al-Rahman (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Adab), and he changed names with bad meanings, for instance changing the name "ʿAsiyah" (disobedient) to "Jamilah" (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Adab). The names of prophets, Companions and words meaning praiseworthy qualities are also good. Avoid names with bad meanings, names that merely sound nice but whose meaning is unknown, or spellings so unusual that they complicate official documents. Check the meaning of an Arabic word with someone knowledgeable before registering. In Malaysia, a child's name is registered with the National Registration Department after birth. See Children.
The Prophet ﷺ said that the names most beloved to Allah are ʿAbdullah and ʿAbd al-Rahman (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Adab), and he changed names with bad meanings, for instance changing the name "ʿAsiyah" (disobedient) to "Jamilah" (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Adab). The names of prophets, Companions and words meaning praiseworthy qualities are also good. Avoid names with bad meanings, names that merely sound nice but whose meaning is unknown, or spellings so unusual that they complicate official documents. Check the meaning of an Arabic word with someone knowledgeable before registering. In Malaysia, a child's name is registered with the National Registration Department after birth. See Children.
Sources
Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-AdabSurah al-Hujurat 49:11