How Can Fathers Choose the Best Names for Their Children?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Question

How should a father choose a good name for his son?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his family, and all his companions.

To ensure that the choice of a name is permissible, correct, and blessed; it is essential to observe these two fundamental criteria: The name should not be one that is prohibited in Islamic Law, and it should be good in both structure and meaning, linguistically and according to the Sacred Law.

Additionally, it is necessary to consider other factors, such as the opinion of scholars, the elderly, and those of high status, as well as the views of relevant parties like the wife and family members. It is also important to choose the best and most beloved names that are mentioned in Islamic texts, including verses of the Quran and Hadith. One must completely avoid being fascinated by or following contemporary fashions, Western names that are foreign to our religion, morals, and language, or resorting to fortune-tellers, charlatans, proponents of the occult, astrology, etc. And Allah knows best.

Detailed Answer

A person’s name is closely tied to them and has a significant impact on their personal and religious characteristics, as well as their psychological state. This impact remains throughout their life and extends beyond their death, affecting their offspring as well. On the Day of Judgment, people will be called by their names. Abu al-Darda reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Indeed, you will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so make your names good.” [Abu Dawud]

Given the importance and the serious implications of this matter, Islam pays special attention to choosing the best names from the beginning and changing some inappropriate names later.

Sahl ibn Sa‘d al-Sa‘adi reported:

“Al-Mundhir ibn Abi Usayd was brought to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) when he was born, and the Prophet placed him on his thigh while Abu Usayd was seated near him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was busy with something in front of him, so Abu Usayd told someone to take his son from the Prophet’s leg. When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) became aware of it, he asked, ‘Where is the child?’ Abu Usayd replied, ‘We sent him home.’ The Prophet asked, ‘What is his name?’ He replied, ‘Such-and-such.’ The Prophet said, ‘No, rather his name is al-Mundhir.’ So we called him al-Mundhir from that day.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims to carefully choose the names of their children, as this is one of their most important rights. It is recommended to name the child on the day of their birth or on the seventh day, as mentioned by Imam Nawawi in his book “al-Adhkar.” He stated, “The Sunna is to name the newborn on the seventh day after birth, or on the day of birth. The preference for naming on the seventh day is due to what we narrated in the ‘Book of Tirmidhi’… that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) commanded to name the newborn on his seventh day, to remove harm from him, and to perform the ‘Aqiqa.’ [Tirmidhi]

We also narration from Samura ibn Jundub (Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Every boy is pawned against his ‘Aqiqa, to be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day of his birth, his head is to be shaved, and he must be given a name.” [Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud; Ibn Maja]

As for naming the newborn on the day of birth, it is due to what Imam Muslim and others narrated; from Anas (Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “A boy was born to me this night, and I named him after my father Ibrahim.” [Muslim]

We also have narrations in Bukhari and Muslim, from Anas (Allah be pleased with him), who said: “A boy was born to Abu Talha, and I brought him to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), who chewed a date and rubbed its juice into the baby’s mouth, and named him Abdullah.” [Nawawi, al-Adhkar]

After this necessary introduction related to the question, we now clarify how a father should choose a good name for his son.

There are several criteria in this matter, which boil down to two main points:

1. The name should not be among those prohibited in Islamic law.
2. The name should be pleasant in structure – meaning the phrasing – and in meaning, both linguistically and according to Sacred Law.

In the following, we will mention the most beloved and best names as stated in Islamic texts. Then, we will discuss some guidelines related to those names that are prohibited in Sacred Law.

The Most Beloved and Best Names

1. The names “Abdullah” and “Abd al-Rahman” are highly regarded due to what Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrated: the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The most beloved of your names to Allah are ‘Abdullah’ and ‘Abd al-Rahman.’” [Muslim]
2. Names that signify servitude to Allah (Most High) and His attributes: such as “Abd al-Aziz,” “Abd al-Rahim,” “Abd al-Malik,” “Abd al-Salam,” and others.
3. Names of the Prophets and Messengers. The best and most virtuous among them is the name of our Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) and his other names as well, like “Ahmad” and “Mahmud.” Abu Musa (Allah be pleased with him) narrated, “A boy was born to me, so I brought him to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), who named him Ibrahim, chewed a date, then prayed for his blessing and handed him back to me, and he was the eldest of Abu Musa’s sons.” [Bukhari]
   Abu Wahb al-Jushami (Allah be pleased with him), a companion, said that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Name yourselves after the names of the prophets. The names dearest to Allah are ‘Abdullah’ and ‘Abd al-Rahman,’ the truest are ‘Harith’ and ‘Hammam,’ and the ugliest are ‘Harb’ (war) and ‘Murra’ (bitter).” [Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, and others]
4. Names of great and righteous people, scholars, and practicing scholars, especially the names of the noble companions, then those who follow them from the predecessors and great figures of the nation. Mughira bin Shu‘ba (Allah be pleased with him) narrated, “When I came to Najran, they (the Christians of Najran) asked me: You read ‘O sister of Harun’ (i.e. Sayyida Maryam) in the Quran, whereas Moses was born much before Jesus. When I came back to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), I asked him about that, whereupon he said: The (people of the old age) used to give names (to their persons) after the names of Apostles and pious persons who had gone before them.” [Muslim]
5. Every name that is good in structure and meaning, both linguistically and according to Sacred Law. [Nawawi, al-Adhkar]

Some Guidelines Regarding Names That Are Prohibited to Use as Mentioned by Scholars [Ibn al-Qayyim, Tuhfat al-Mawdud]

1. It is forbidden to use names that denote worship to anything other than Allah (Most High), whether it be a human, inanimate object, animal, celestial body, names of idols, etc. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) changed every name that signified worship to other than Allah (Most High), such as ‘Abd al-Uzza, ‘Abd al-Ka‘ba, ‘Abd Shams, ‘Abd al-Harith… Hani ibn Yazid said: A group came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he heard them calling one ‘Abd al-Hajar,’ so he asked, “What is your name?” The man said, “Abd al-Hajar”. Then the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “You are ‘Abdullah’ (the servant of Allah).” [Abu Shayba, Mussanaf]
2. It is forbidden to use names that are exclusively attributed to Allah (Most High), such as “Allah” or “al-Rahman.” Allah says: “(He is the) Lord of the heavens, and the earth, and everything in between. So worship Him (alone), and be steadfast in His worship. Do you know of anyone equal to Him (in His attributes)?” [Quran, 16:65]
3. Naming with foreign names specific to their religions, such as Peter, George, etc.
4. Every name that implies a claim that is not true for the named and cannot be fulfilled at all, like “King of Kings” (Shahan Shah). Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The vilest name in Allah’s sight is Malik al-Amlak (King of Kings). The narration transmitted on the authority of Shaiba (contains these words): There is no king but Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Sufyan said: Similarly, the word Shahinshah (is also the vilest appellation). Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: I asked Abu ‘Amr about the meaning of “Akhna‘.” He said: The vilest. [Muslim]
5. Naming after the names of devils, such as Khinzab, Walhan, A‘war, and Ajda‘, and there are Sunna traditions that suggest changing the name if it is so.

Some Guidelines Regarding Names That Are Disliked to Use as Mentioned by Scholars [Ibn al-Qayyim, Tuhfat al-Mawdud]

1. It is disliked to name someone with a name that people find repulsive due to its unpleasant meaning or potential for mockery, as this contradicts the Prophet’s guidance to improve names. This is mentioned in the hadith where the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The ugliest (names are): Harb (war) and Murra (bitter).”
2. It is disliked to name someone after infamous sinners or similar individuals deliberately. If these individuals have names with good meanings, it is permissible to use these names for their positive meanings, not for the purpose of resembling or imitating those individuals.
3. It is disliked to use names that imply sin and disobedience, such as Sariq (thief) and Zalim (oppressor), or to use names of tyrants and sinners like Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun. Ibn ‘Umar narrated, “Umar had a daughter named ‘Asiya, but the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) named her Jamila.” [Muslim]
4. It is disliked to name someone after animals known for undesirable traits, such as a donkey, dog, monkey, etc.
5. It is disliked to use certain names such as Rabah, Yasar, Najah, and Falah, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade us to give names to our servants as these four names: Aflah (Successful), Rabdh (Profit), Yasar (Wealth), and Nafi‘ (Beneficial). [Ibid.]
   Likewise, any name implying self-praise is discouraged. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade naming someone Barra (pious), saying, “Do not claim piety for yourselves; Allah knows best who the pious are among you.” [Abu Dawud]
   Ibn ‘Abbas narrated, “Juwayriya’s name was Barra, so the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) changed her name to Juwayriya, and he disliked it being said, ‘He came out from (the house of) Barra.’” [Muslim]

This topic has been given special attention by scholars in their writings. Among them, the distinguished scholar Ibn al-Qayyim dedicated a specific work to this subject, titled “Tuhfat al-Mawdud bi Ahkam al-Mawlud,” which includes a chapter on naming and its rulings. This can be referred to for more extensive knowledge and benefit.

Important Note

It is not permissible to consult people involved in superstitions, ignorance, magic, fortune-telling, or similar practices when choosing names for children. This includes those who claim knowledge of astrology, celestial bodies, or the unseen, and who choose names based on the date of birth or the names of the parents, among other things. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) has issued stern warnings and prohibitions against consulting such individuals in any matter. And Allah knows best.

Conclusion

Firstly, we thank you, dear questioner, for your keenness to adhere to the religious rites and to seek what conforms to Sacred Law and pleases Allah, Lord of the worlds, and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Secondly, you may choose any name that conforms to Sacred Law and is good in structure and meaning, as we have mentioned above. This should be done considering the opinions of knowledgeable and respected individuals, the elders in the family, and the opinion of the wife as well. It’s important to avoid names that are prohibited and to be very cautious of following contemporary naming trends that do not align with our religion or language. Additionally, avoid consulting fortune-tellers, charlatans, those who claim knowledge of the unseen or astrology, or others, when choosing your children’s names or any matter.

May Allah guide you to what He loves and is pleased with.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.

He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.

He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.

Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”