Why Does a Name Matter in Islam?
The Prophet ﷺ said: On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and your fathers' names, so make your names good. (Abu Dawud). A name is a child's first gift — it shapes their identity and their relationship with their faith.
Rules for Islamic Names
- Recommended: Names of prophets (Muhammad, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Maryam), names meaning "servant of Allah" (Abdullah, Abdurrahman), and names with good meanings
- Permitted: Names with positive, neutral meanings in any language
- Disliked (Makruh): Names that may lead to embarrassment, or names of oppressors
- Forbidden (Haram): Names meaning servitude to other than Allah (e.g., Abdul-Lat, Abdul-Uzza), names that imply divinity or absolute attributes (Malik al-Amlak — King of Kings)
The Best Names
The Prophet ﷺ said: The most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdurrahman. (Muslim). Names of prophets are also highly recommended. For girls, names like Maryam, Fatimah, Khadijah, Aisha, and Zaynab carry great historical honour.
When to Name a Child
The Sunnah is to name on the 7th day after birth, along with the Aqiqah (sacrifice). However, naming at birth is also permissible and widely practised. The Adhan is recited in the right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear of the newborn.
Find the Perfect Islamic Name
Use our Islamic Names Finder tool to search by meaning, letter, or origin and find a beautiful name for your child. You can also explore our 99 Names of Allah for inspiration — many parents choose names derived from the divine attributes.
Search Islamic names now: Open Names Finder →