Names for Boys from the Quran
The Holy Quran features numerous names attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as to other prophets. Among the names mentioned for the Prophet in the Quran are: Ahmad, Muhammad, Bashir, Abdullah, Al-Nur, Al-Siraj, Al-Mustafa, Al-Tahir, Al-Amin, and Al-Sadiq. The Quran also mentions twenty-five prophets and messengers, including: Adam, Noah, Idris, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Joseph, Moses, Jesus, Aaron, Lot, Hud, Muhammad, Zechariah, Yahya, Elias, Al-Yasa, Dhul-Kifl, Salih, Abraham, David, Solomon, and Shu’ayb (peace be upon them).
Names That Are Discouraged or Prohibited
Certain names are either discouraged or sometimes forbidden when it comes to naming. These include:
- Names associated with devils.
- Names of well-known idols.
- Names that relate specifically to God Almighty or His attributes, such as “The Creator” or “The Holy One,” or “The Sovereign of Kings.”
- Names that imply servitude to anyone other than God, such as naming a boy “Abd Ali” or “Abd Al-Kabah.”
- Names that describe the Prophet (peace be upon him) in terms of superiority, such as “Lord of Creation” or “Lord of the Sons of Adam.”
The Child’s Right to a Good Name
It is commendable for parents to choose names for their children that have meaningful Arabic and Islamic connotations. They should also avoid names that are prohibited, disliked, or associated with negative meanings that may affect the child’s character throughout their life. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) paid great attention to this matter, as he even changed the names of individuals he encountered. For instance, he changed a girl’s name from “Aasiyah” (disobedient) to “Jamila” (beautiful), and referred to a man as “Zura’a” instead of “Asram.” Additionally, when a man approached Umar ibn al-Khattab complaining about his son’s disobedience, he learned through questioning that the child had been given an unbecoming name. Umar concluded that the father had wronged his son even before the son had the chance to do so.