What Is In Name

Baby name given to a child is his or her first gift in life. Therefore, great care must be taken in choosing baby names that have pleasant and beautiful meanings just like our Prophet (P.B.U.H) did.
It is from the teachings of the Messenger of Allah, that each member of the family be given a good name. Those who ask Allah to give them children should also ask Allah to make these children among the followers of the Prophet Muhammad and adherents to his Sunnah. It is an obligation upon the parents that their child be given a good name.
The baby name should be meaningful as well. 'You will be called by your name on the day of judgment' this is another reason why it is important to chose a baby name with good meaning.
Personality Impact of Name
Psychologists now apprehend the wisdom of the effect a person’s name has on his life. But Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) had revealed this fact to his followers already 1400 years ago. His teaching to his followers was that children should be given good names, and that meaningless names and those having unsavory connotations should be avoided. Subsequently, we find many incidents mentioned in the Hadith where Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) changed the names of people with this object.
Another aspect of a person’s name is that it bespeaks a person’s religion. Hence the name of a Muslim is usually of such a nature that by the mere mention of it, the listener understands that the person so addressed, is a Muslim. It is for this reason that our elders laid great emphasis on keeping good and pleasant names.
Care Should Be Taken
Since the widespread of Western culture throughout the world, it has become customary amongst Muslims not to take into cognisance the meaning of the name when naming a child. Many do not even bother to ascertain whether it is permissible for one to keep such a name or not. Often, even if the name is correct and suitable, then by way of abbreviating it, its Islamic connotation is distorted. In fact, at times it even becomes unlawful to address one Rahmaan; Abdur-Razzaaq, Razzaqq and Wahhaab are the exclusive epithets of Allah Ta’ala. To address any creation, by such a name, is there unlawful.
Hadiths Relating Choosing Names
Naming a child with a beautiful and honourable name is very important. The Prophet always chose names with good and beautiful meanings, even telling people to change their names if they had unpleasant meanings.
Narrated by Abu Musa (RA)" a son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet who named him Ibrahim, did tahneek for him with a date, invoked Allah's blessing upon him and returned him to me. Sahih Bukhari 7:376
Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger said that "the names dearest to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman." Sahih Muslim 3:5315
Abu Wahab al-Jushamee (RA) who was the Companion of the Prophet reported him as saying", call yourselves by the names of the Prophets. The names dearest to Allah are Abdulla and Abdur Rahman, the truest are Harith (ploughman) and Hammam (energetic) and the worst are Harb (war) and Murrah (bitter)". Sunan Abu Dawood 3: 4140
Narrated Abu Hurayrah (RA). Allah's Apostle said, "the most awful name in Allah's sight on the Day of Resurrection will be that of a man calling himself Malik Al-Amlaak. (king of kings)". Sahih Bukhari 8:224.
Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger changed the name of Aasiyah (disobedient) and said "You are Jameelah (good and beautiful). Sahih Muslim 3:5332 & 4747 (This name should not to be confused with Asiya, the Muslim wife of the Pharaoh)
Usaman Ibn Akhdari (RA) said, a man called Asram (harsh, severe, cut off) was among those who came to the Apostle of Allah. The Apostle of Allah said "what is your name?" he replied "Asram" He said "no, you are Zu'rah". (which means, has been taken or derived from crop, or to sow seed). Sunan Abu Dawood 3:4144

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Islamic - Muslim Girls Names / Islamic - Muslim Boys Names

A-M A-M | N-Z
Abir (abeer - fragrance)
Adiba (adeeba - civilised / cultured)
Afaf (afaaf - purity/modesty)
Afia (aafiya-vigour/vitality)
Afifa (afeefa-honest, upright)
Ahlam (ahlaam - dreams)
Amal (hope)
Amira (ameera - princess)
Anbar (ambar - camphor)
Areej (fragrance)
Arwa (satisfied, pleasant, fresh)
Azhaar (flowers)
Azizah (azeeza - dear / powerful)
Azra (azraa - virgin - used for Maryam/Mary)
Badr (full moon)
Badriya (full moon-wali)
Bahia (bahiya - nice)
Bahija (baheeja - happy)
Bahja (happiness)
Baligha (baleegha - eloquent)
Banan (banaan-finger tips)
Barirah (bareera-pious, kind)
Basha'ir (bashaaer-good tidings)
Bashasha (bashaasha-cheerfulness)
Bashira (basheera-report of good tiding)
Basima (baseema-smiling)
Batul (batool - immaculate)
Bilqis (bilqees - name of the queen of Sheeba who became Muslim at the time of Solomon)
Budur (full moons)
Bushra (good tiding)
Dalal (dalaal-pampering)
Durriyah (durriyyah-brilliant)
Fadwa (redemptor, sacrifing)
Faiqa (faa-eqa - outstanding, awake)
Faiza (victorious)
Farah (happiness)
Farha (happy)
Faryal (faryaal-?)
Fatema (faatima - one sucking her mother's milk)
Firdaus (paradise)
Ghada (ghaada-young lady)
Ghunwah (song)
Gulnar (gulnaar-flowery [Persian])
Hafsa (cub)
Hajar [haajar - name of Prophet Ismail's mother]
Hawwa [Eve]
Heba [Gift]
Hind (India - common Arab name)
Huriya (hooriya-houri, nymph)
Husna (beauty)
Ibtihaj (ibtihaaj-happiness)
Ibtihal (ibtihaal-supplication)
Ibtisam (ibtisaam-smile)
Iffat (purity/modesty)
Ilham (ilhaam-revelation)
Inas (Eenaas-cordiality)
Intisar (Intisaar-triumph)
Ishraq (ishraaq-radiance)
Itidal (I'tedaal-balance)
Itimad (I'temaad-trust)
Jamila (jameela-beautiful)
Janna (garden)
Jasmin (yasmin)
Jawhara (gem)
Juwairiyah (little girl)
Kamila (kameela/kaamila-complete)
Kausar (reservoir in Paradise)
Khadeeja (prophet's[pbuh] wifes, a female child born earlier than it was due to be born)
Khansa [pre-Islam Arabic poetess]
Khawlah (loneliness)
Laila (dark-old Arab name)
Lulu (pearl-plural)
Lulua (pearl -singular)
Ma'ali (heights)
Mahasin (virtues)
Maimuna (lucky, blessed)
Mais (proud gait)
Maisa (one with proud gait, walker with proud gait)
Maisara (comfort, prosperity)
Maisun (maysoon / meaning ?)
Makarim (makaarim-kindnesses)
Malak / Malaeka (angel - angels)
Malika (maleeka-owner)
Manal (manaal-achievement)
Manar (manaar-lighthouse)
Maram (maraam-aim)
Mariha (joyful, cheerful)
Maryam (Mary)
Mawahib (mawaahib-abilities)
Mayesa (same as "Maisa" above)
Muna (desire)
Muniba (muneeba-repentant to God)
Munira (muneera-illuminator)

Muslim baby girl names continues on next page N-Z
N-Z A-M | N-Z
Naaz (pride, elegance)
Nabiha (nabeeha-eminent, noble, alert, intelligent)
Nabila (nabeela-noble)
Nadira (naadira-unique)
Nafisa (refined, pure, exquiste)
Nahla (drink)
Naira (shinning, glittering)
Najida (brave)
Na'ila (naayela-achiever)
Nargis (flower)
Nasim (naseem-breeze)
Nisrin (corrupted in the Subcontinent as Nasreen (nisreen -musk rose)
Nur (noor - light)
Qahira (victorious)
Qudsia (holiness)
Qurratulain (sweetheart)
Rabab (rabaab-rabab (an Arab musical instrument))
Radwa (contentment)
Raghad (carefree, comfortable)
Raiqa (pure, clear)
Rahil (wife of Prophet Yaqub))
Rana (delight)
Rania (raaniya-gazer, delighted)
Raya (aroma)
Reem (froth)
Sabat (firmness, truth)
Sabiya (brilliant, splendid)
Sakina (sakeena-tranquil, calm)
Salima (saleema-safe, complete)
Salma (safe, faultless)
Salsabil (salsabeel-a sping in Paradise)
Samina (healthy, fertile land without rock and stone)
Sana (brilliance, majestic)
Sara (Sarah - name of Prophet Ibrahim's wife)
Shadiya (shaadiya - singing)
Shaima (shaymaa-good-natured)
Shakira (shaakira-grateful)
Shaza (fragrance)
Shazia (shaaziya-fragrant)
Shurooq (sun-rise, rise)
Sughra (tender)
Suhair (vigilant)
Taghrid (taghreed - churping)
Tahani (tahaani-greetings)
Tahira (taahira-pure, clean)
Ula (glory, high rank)
uzma (greatest)
Wafa (loyalty)
Wajd (passion)
Warda (rose)
Yasmin (yasmeen-jasmin)
Yusra (easy)
Yusra (easy)
Zahra (flower)
Zaima (leader)
Zainab (corruption of Zenubia, pre-Islam Syrian queen)
Zarin (golden)
Zeba (pretty)
A-M A-M | N-Z
Aazad (free, independent - Persian word)
Aban (abaan-more clear)
Abbad (abbaad-great worshipper)
Abbas (abbaas-name of the Prophet's uncle)
Adib (adeeb - cultured, civilised)
Affan (affaan-name of Caliph Uthman's father)
Ajwad (better)
Allam (very knowledgeagble)
Almas (diamond)
Amir (aamir-thriving, prosperous)
Ammar (ammaar-great builder)
Aniq (neat, elegant, smart)
Antar (name of Arab hero of chivalry)
Arwarh (more delicate, more gracious)
Ashraf (more noble)
Asif (aasif-describer)
Asil (aseel-genuine, pure)
Asir (captivating, fascinating)
Askari (soldier)
Awwab (awwaab-great repenter to God)
Ayaz (ayaaz-slave [Persian])
Ayham (imaginary)
Ayman (right-handed, lucky)
Azhar (very or more evident - Arabic word)
Baariq (shining, lighting, illuminating)
Bakir (baakir-early)
Basil (brave, bold, valiant)
Basim (baasim-smiling)
Baz (falcon)
Dara (possessor, sovereign)
Diwan (royal court, tribunal of justice)
Faiq (faa-eq- outstanding, awake)
Fakih (fakeeh-pleasant)
Faqih (faqeeh - wise)
Fatih (faateh-conqueror, opener)
Haidar (lion)
Haitham (lion)
Hamdan (praiser (of God))
Hamza (name of the Prophet's uncle)
Hariz (strong, secure, guarded)
Hasan (beautiful, good)
Hashim (haashim-smasher, name of the Prophet great grandfather)
Hisham (hishaam - popular Arab name)
Humam (humaam- generous, heroic)
Husain (demunitive form of Hasan (above))
Imad (pillar, post, support)
Iqbal (iqbaal - advance, advent)
Isam (isaam-self-made success)
Jalal (jalaal-glory, splendour)
Jamal (jamaal-beauty)
Jamil (jameel-beautiful)
Jasim (great & famous)
Jawwad (jawwaad-generous)
Kamil (perfect, complete, genuine, learned)
Labib (labeeb-wise)
Laith (lion)
Mahdi (guided one)
Mansur (mansoor-victorious)
Marwan (marwaan-name of an Omayad caliph who built the Dome of the Rock)
Muaz (protected)
Munsif (just, fair)
Muntasir (winner)
Murad (muraad-aim)
Muslih (reformer)
Muslim (surrender (to God))
Muslim (surrender to God)
Muwaffaq (fortunate)

N-Z A-M | N-Z
Nabih (noble, famous)
Nail (naa-yel-achiever)
Nawaf (nawaaf-popular Arab name)
Nawfal (popular Arab name)
Nazir (bright)
Najm (star, planet)
Nasif (just)
Numan (numaan-blood)
Pasha (lord, honourific title)
Qa'id (qaayed-leader)
Qadir (able, powerful)
Quds (holiness, sanctity)
Rafi (exalted)
Raghib (willing, desirous)
Rashad (rashaad-good sense, maturity)
Rauf (ra-oof-merciful)
Rayhan (ease, fragrant, comfort)
Sadiq (saadiq-truthful)
Safwan (popular Arab name)
Samir (companion, entertainer)
Sayid (sayy-id-chief, leader)
Shakil (shakeel-beautiful)
Sharaf (honour)
Tawqir (goodluck, success (granted by Allah))
T'ariq (taariq-knocker)
Tazim (honour)
Usaid (small lion)
Waiz (preacher)
Wasi (broad-minded)
Yusuf (Joseph)
Ziad (ziyaad - popular Arab name)
Ziaul-Haq (Zia-ul-Haq - "Light of Truth")
Zoheb "little gold" - the dimunitive form of zahab [correct Arabic is: dhahab]
Zohoor (appearance)
Zuhair (demunitive form of zahr (flower))


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Panduan Beri Nama Bayi

Nama seseorang manusia adalah tanda dan alamat untuk dirinya. Tanpa nama, seseorang insan sukar dikenali dan dipanggil. Kerana itu, apabila lahir seorang bayi, wajib bagi penjaganya memberikan satu nama kepadanya. Imam Ibn Hazm menukilkan kesepakatan ulama tentang wajib memberi nama kepada anak lelaki dan perempuan.
Dalam memberikan nama anak, jangan kita memandang remeh. Kerana, nama yang kita berikan kepada sikecil inilah yang akan menjadi label untuk dirinya sampai bila-bila. Nama inilah yang akan tercatat dalam sijil kelahirannya, kad pengenalannya, lesen memandunya, sijil-sijil akademiknya, sehingga ke sijil kematiannya.
Jika nama yang diberikan memberi maksud yang tidak baik, dia akan dikenali dengan nama itu sehingga akhir hayatnya. Bukan itu sahaja, orang yang memberikan nama juga akan menerima malu. Sebagaimana pepatah (Arab) menyebut, ‘Melalui namamu, sudah kukenal siapa ayah kamu’.
Oleh itu, sebelum memberikan suatu nama bagi anak yang lahir, wajar diperingatkan dengan beberapa perkara. Secara ringkasnya seperti berikut:
1) Nama memberi kesan kepada kehidupan seseorang. Pepatah (Arab) menyebut: ‘Bagi setiap yang empunya nama, pasti ada bahagian daripada namanya’. Hakikat ini diperakui oleh Ibnul Qayyim. Katanya: “Kebanyakan orang-orang yang hina, nama mereka munasabah dengan diri mereka. Dan kebanyakan orang-orang mulia dan tinggi, nama mereka sesuai dengan diri mereka”.
2) Waktu memilih nama. Dalam sunnah Nabi SAW, terdapat kelonggaran pada waktu memberi nama. Samada pada hari pertama, atau dalam masa tiga hari pertama, atau pada hari ketujuh. Pilihlah mana-mana yang digemari.
3) Siapakah yang berhak memberi nama? Jika kedua-dua ibu bapa bersetuju dengan satu nama, maka ia suatu yang baik. Tapi, kadangkala mereka berselisih. Dalam situasi ini, yang berhak ialah bapanya. Tapi, jika kuasa veto bapa boleh menjejaskan keharmonian keluarga, eloklah dicari nama yang dipersetujui oleh kedua-duanya. Ataupun meminta orang lain yang memberikan nama yang elok, sebagaimana sesetengah sahabat meminta Nabi SAW meletakkan nama anak-anak mereka.
4) Nama anak mesti dibinkan kepada bapanya, bukan ibunya. Demikianlah arahan Allah Taala dalam surah al-Ahzab, ayat 5 yang bermaksud, “Serulah mereka dengan nama bapa-bapa mereka”.
5) Pilihan nama yang baik. Nama yang baik ialah nama yang sebutannya elok, dan maknanya juga baik. Pepatah (Arab) menyebut, ‘Kewajipan ayah terhadap anaknya ialah: memilih baginya ibu yang baik, memberinya nama yang baik, dan mengajarnya adab yang baik’.
6) Contoh nama-nama yang digemari syarak ialah;
- Abdullah dan Abdul Rahman
- Nama yang dimulakan dengan ‘Abd’, seperti: Abdul Malik, dan Abdul Aziz.
- Nama para Nabi seperti: Muhammad, Ibrahim, dan Musa.
- Nama orang-orang soleh, seperti nama-nama sahabat.
7) Mengelak daripada memberi nama-nama yang haram. Seperti:
- Nama ‘Abd’ yang dihubungkan dengan selain Allah, kerana Abd bermaksud ‘hamba’. Maka haram memberi nama: Abdul Syams, Abdul Qamar, Abdul Nabi, Abdul Husain, dan seumpamanya.
- Nama yang khas untuk Allah sahaja, seperti: Al-Rahman, Al-Khaliq.
- Nama-nama berhala, seperti: Al-Laat, Al-Uzza, Isaaf dan Naelah.
- Nama yang menunjukkan sifat yang tidak layak bagi diri seseorang, seperti: Malikul Amlak (Raja segala raja), dan Sayyid al-Naas (Penghulu segala manusia).
- Nama-nama Syaitan, seperti: Al-Walhan, Al-A’war, dan Al-Ajda’.
8) Seboleh-bolehnya hendaklah menjauhi nama-nama yang makruh. Antaranya:
- Nama yang memberi maksud suatu yang kurang disenangi, seperti: Al-Harb (Peperangan), Fadhih (Yang membuka aib), Suham (sejenis penyakit unta).
- Nama-nama yang memberi makna yang merangsang nafsu, contohnya: Fatin فاتن (Penggoda).
- Nama-nama yang membawa maksud dosa dan maksiat, contohnya: Sariq (Pencuri).
- Nama-nama seperti: Firaun, Qarun dan Haman.
- Nama-nama haiwan yang terkenal dengan sifat dan perumpamaan yang tidak elok, contohnya: Himar (Keldai), dan Al-Kalb (Anjing).
- Nama-nama yang digabungkan dengan perkataan ‘Al-Din’ (Agama) dan ‘Al-Islam’, seperti: Dhiyauddin, Saiful Islam, Nurul Islam, dan seumpamanya. Tujuannya untuk memelihara kedua-dua nama ini (Al-Din dan Islam) daripada menjadi nama individu yang tidak layak.
- Nama-nama yang digabungkan daripada dua nama. Kerana para salaf dahulu tidak memberi nama melainkan satu perkataan sahaja. Pada zaman-zaman terkemudian, timbul nama-nama gabungan, seperti: Muhammad Ali, Ahmad Yunus dan lain-lain.
9) Menukar kepada nama yang baik. Jika ditakdirkan seseorang diberikan nama yang tidak menepati kehendak syarak, contohnya nama yang diharamkan, maka penyelesaiannya ialah dengan menukar nama. Dalam hadis disebut bahawa Rasulullah SAW menukar nama yang buruk kepada nama yang baik. Direkod oleh Tirmizi.
Kesimpulan, pilihlah nama yang cantik dan bertepatan dengan syarak. Jangan hanya melihat kepada sebutan yang menarik dan glamour.
Sekian.