Baby Names in Islam
Total Hadiths 106
What Prophetic Hadiths Teach Us About Naming Babies in Islam
Choosing the right name for a newborn is an important decision in the life of a Muslim family. The provided prophetic statements give us clear and practical guidance on this matter. According to these traditions, Prophet Muhammad encouraged parents to select meaningful and gentle names for their children. In one instance, he suggested changing a child's name to Abdur-Rahman, highlighting the beauty of using names that reflect devotion to God. The narrations also show that the Prophet preferred positive meanings, even offering to rename an individual from Hazn, which means rough, to Sahl, which means easy. Refusing a name change can sometimes leave a trace of roughness in character, as noted by the companions. Furthermore, the Prophet laid down a unique rule regarding his own titles, telling his companions that they could use his personal name but should avoid using his specific honorific title, or Kuniya, Abu-l-Qasim. Together, these teachings show that Islamic baby names should carry a peaceful meaning while respecting sacred boundaries.
حَدَّثَنَا رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ الْوَاسِطِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، - يَعْنِي الطَّحَّانَ - عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ " فَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ قَاسِمًا أَقْسِمُ بَيْنَكُمْ " .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Husain With the same chain of transmitters but no mention is made of these words: " (I have been sent as a distributor), so I distribute amongst you."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2133cIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5318
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا جُعِلْتُ قَاسِمًا أَقْسِمُ بَيْنَكُمْ " .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters but there is a slight variation (of wording) that, instead of the word Bu'ithat (I have been sent), the word ju'ilat (I have been made) has been used.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2133eIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5320
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَبَلَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي بِشْرُ، بْنُ خَالِدٍ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ سَالِمِ، بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا النَّضْرُ، بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، وَمَنْصُورٍ، وَسُلَيْمَانَ، وَحُصَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا سَالِمَ بْنَ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ مَنْ ذَكَرْنَا حَدِيثَهُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ . وَفِي حَدِيثِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ وَزَادَ فِيهِ حُصَيْنٌ وَسُلَيْمَانُ قَالَ حُصَيْنٌ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ قَاسِمًا أَقْسِمُ بَيْنَكُمْ " . وَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ " فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا قَاسِمٌ أَقْسِمُ بَيْنَكُمْ " .
This hadith has been narrated through different chains of transmitters on the authority of Shu'ba with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2133gIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5322
وَحَدَّثَنِي أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ بِسْطَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ زُرَيْعٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُلَيَّةَ - كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ رَوْحِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ وَلاَ نُنْعِمُكَ عَيْنًا .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Ibn Uyaina, but there is no mention of this: " We will not allow you to cool your eyes."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2133iIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5324
وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنِي جَرِيرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ بِسْطَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، - وَهْوَ ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ - ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، بِإِسْنَادِ زُهَيْرٍ . فَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ جَرِيرٍ وَرَوْحٍ فَكَمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ بِقِصَّتِهِ . وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ شُعْبَةَ فَلَيْسَ فِيهِ إِلاَّ ذِكْرُ تَسْمِيَةِ الْغُلاَمِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الْكَلاَمَ الأَرْبَعَ .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Shu'ba and there is no mention but of the fact about giving the name to the servant and there is no mention of the four expressions (of remembrance) and he did not mention the four words
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2137bIn-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5330
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْغُبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ، مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا بُنَىَّ " .
Anas b Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed me: O My Son.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2151In-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 38USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 25, Hadith 5351
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " سَمُّوا بِاسْمِي، وَلاَ تَكْتَنُوا بِكُنْيَتِي ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu-l-Qasim (The Prophet) said, "Name yourselves by my name, but do not call yourselves by my Kuniya."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6188In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 212USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 207
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ، كَانَ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةَ، فَقِيلَ تُزَكِّي نَفْسَهَا. فَسَمَّاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَيْنَبَ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Zainab's original name was "Barrah," but it was said' "By that she is giving herself the prestige of piety." So the Prophet (ﷺ) changed her name to Zainab.
[1] 'Barrah' means pious.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6192In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 216USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 212
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " سَمُّوا بِاسْمِي وَلاَ تَكْتَنُوا بِكُنْيَتِي، وَمَنْ رَآنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ فَقَدْ رَآنِي، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَتَمَثَّلُ صُورَتِي، وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Name yourselves after me (by my name), but do not call yourselves by my Kuniya, and whoever sees me in a dream, he surely sees me, for Satan cannot impersonate me (appear in my figure). And whoever intentionally ascribes something to me falsely, he will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6197In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 221USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 217
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَخْنَى الأَسْمَاءِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ تَسَمَّى مَلِكَ الأَمْلاَكِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The most awful name in Allah's sight on the Day of Resurrection, will be (that of) a man calling himself Malik Al-Amlak (the king of kings).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6205In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 229USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 224
