Naming a Child Properly in Faith Tradition

Question

What are the guidelines in Islam for naming a newborn child? Which names are most encouraged, and which should be avoided?

Bottom Line

Names are identity in a word, choose ones that uplift, not ones you’ll regret at roll call.

Quick Answer

Islam encourages giving children meaningful names that reflect faith, virtue, and dignity. The most beloved names to Allah are ʿAbdullah and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. Names of prophets, righteous people, and virtuous people are recommended. Names with bad meanings, exclusive divine names, or names implying servitude to anyone other than Allah should be avoided.

Key Takeaways

• Sunnahis to name on the seventh day, but naming at birth is also valid.
• Best names: ʿAbdullah, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, and other “ʿAbd” names of Allah.
• Recommended: Prophets, righteous people, virtuous qualities.
• Avoid: Bad meanings, exclusive divine names, servitude to other than Allah, and names of oppressors.

Detailed Answer

A name is both a person’s identity and a reflection of their values. In Islam, it serves as a marker of faith and an honor to be upheld in this world and the next.

It is Sunnah to name the child on the seventh day after birth, alongside shaving the head and offering the ʿAqīqah. Naming on the day of birth is also permissible Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2838.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The most beloved names to Allah are ʿAbdullah and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2132

Other recommended names include those beginning with “ʿAbd” followed by one of Allah’s names like ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz or ʿAbd al-Karīm. Also encouraged are the names of prophets (Ibrāhīm, Mūsā, ʿĪsā, Muḥammad), companions, and names with virtuous meanings such as Ṣāliḥ (righteous), Ḥasan (good), or Amīnah (trustworthy).

The Prophet ﷺ would even change names with negative meanings Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6190, showing that a name should inspire goodness and dignity. By contrast, names tied to tyranny or oppression, like Firʿawn or Abū Lahab, should be avoided.

General Reflection

A name is more than sound; it’s a story, an aspiration, and a prayer wrapped in a single word. Choosing wisely is a gift parents hand their child every day of their life.

What This Means for You

Choose names that are meaningful, dignified, and rooted in Islamic tradition. A name shapes a person’s identity and can be a source of blessing for them in this life and the Hereafter.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2132: Most beloved names are ʿAbdullah and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān.
2. Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2838: Naming on the seventh day is Sunnah.
3. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6190: Prophet ﷺ changed names with bad meanings.

Secondary Sources

4. Ibn al-Qayyim, Tuhfat al-Mawdūd bi-Aḥkām al-Mawlūd: On Islamic rulings of newborns.