Do you have to have a Muslim name?

Question

I am a new convert - just one week ago. And everyone asks me have a picked a Muslim name? The Imam who did my shahadah told me I don't have to change my name if I don't want but another Muslim told me when I go to Jannat that the angels will call me by my Muslim name. What to do.

If I do have to pick one, my english name means 'the happy one' so is there and name with equivalent meaning in arabic for girls?

Answer 1

you do not have to change it unless the meaning is bad.  since the meaning is not bad in your case then you do not have to change it.  I never changed my name for the same reason.  as for being called by your Muslim name, I have never heard that but I know from sunnah the following: Abu Darda raa relates that the Prophet saws said, 'on the Day of Resurrection, you will be called out by your name, and the name of your father. [The call will be so-and-so, son of so-and-so]. So, give good names.  So the sunnah is to give a good name with a good meaning.  Remember sis, be careful about from whom you get your info.  Because often people will say things which are incorrect, which i feel strongly is what happened with you and this subject.  And Allah swt knows best.

Answer 2

Well, my name is Sumayah, and I'm named after a really really brave woman in Islam. She was the 7th person to convert in the time of our beloved prophet and she was the first martyr of Islam, and she was very brave. If you check my profile, and find an answer I wrote, it gives a description of my name.

Pick a really beautiful name, one which has a beautiful meaning.

Answer 3

Khadijah

Answer 4

i did not change my name...nor was I asked to.  My name does not have a christian meaning- so I left it alone.  Now that I am older, most of my converted friends have their original name as well.  However, since our fathers are not muslim (assuming you converted) then it is important to keep your muslim husbands last name.

If you like your name, keep it..its that simple hon.

:-)

Answer 5

There is no such thing as a 'muslim' name. There are Arabic names which tend to be the most commonly used naming language in many Muslim communities... for obvious reasons.

You do not have to change your name to be Muslim and it is quite common in western society to encounter Muslims with anglo-saxon names. The choice is yours at the end of the day.

Answer 6

negative i have a spanish name

the name is enrique and i will convert u to catholicism

Answer 7

So you went from worshiping one imaginary figure to another. Why do you need to worship something that doesn't exist?

Answer 8

You can keep your name. One of my classmate was a born Muslim and was named an Indian-Hindu name. Her name is Neha. I thought she was Hindu till I read her last name. lol

Answer 9

no you dont have to change your name...and for the angels part i can't say anything 'cause i've never heard of it before..besides if the imam told you "you  don't have to change your name" that means he was aware of that i guess..

Answer 10

Well, my name is Arabic, which is Farhana, and it means happy!

But there is no need to change your name if you do not want to

Its your choice

Answer 11

no only if you want to  

Answer 12

You don't have to, but if I were you then I would change my name. There are some really nice muslim names. My name Shakila, means beautiful.

Answer 13

you can keep the name. no problem

the thing that your friend said is that when the angels take you from earth to the sky other angels will ask who's body is this so they'll tell the best name of your's. most pple take it to be the muslim name but i think it's like the name that u get on earth ex, the name of abubaker is abdullah but he was called siddiq and siddiq is the best name so may be he'll be called siddiq.

another ex if your name is xyz and you are so hud that pple call u some good word/name say abc so you'll be called by abc.

Answer 14

keep your name if you want, a Muslim Name is optional

Answer 15

For some reason teh word "arabic" and "muslim" tend to get interchanged when dealing with names.  

But no you don't have to change, unless it conflicts with islam......which....is like the name of a greek god for instance.  Or if your name...has a meaning that isn't cool with islam....which your name doesn't.  

I have no sources...but i've heard the thing too....that you'll be called by the arabic version of your name in heaven.  

Answer 16

Well, if I did decide to switch over to the Muslim Belief, I would probably chose a name that everyone could easily remember, like:

Ahab, the Arab, Shiek of the burning sands, (with rings on my fingers, bells on my toes and a bone in my nose,) HO HO!

Answer 17

So wait ! Are you saying all the angels are muslims ?  Gimme a break oops, I forgot Islam is a religion and that's what religion do to people....bd

Answer 18

if you are looking for one, then Yasmin is a very nice name....

Answer 19

No you do not have to change your name.

Answer 20

Mash'Allah. Welcome to Islam. You dont nesseserally have to have one it's just Islamic. You can pick one but never use it. :)

Answer 21

You do not have to change your name sister.  All of us converts get this lecture from at least one person lol.  As long as your name does not have a BAD meaning or is very specifically a name of another religion only you can retain it.  

It seems that many people, often Arabs (no offense meant, I am married to one and my kid is Arab of course lol), believe that it is necessary to have an Arab name even when their own scholars say different.  

Answer 22

You don't have to. My name didn't have one that was conflicting with Islam, however I always love the name Amirah so I decided to keep it, although my family still use my christian name.

I find it squashes confusion and helps me to establish my identity as a Muslim female when I meet new people.

EDIT: For example if your name was Christian or Slave of something other than Allah. Something that is blasphemous or has a meaning that isn't in accordance with what you, as a Muslim ( congratualtions btw!!) believe. And about the name in Jannah thing, I think that's true, but I have no source.

Answer 23

Congratulations

May Allah bless you with his mercy.

and NO you don't HAVE to change your name.

My name is not a muslim name.

Answer 24

wow first of all congrats on converting

and no u dont have to change ur name

i am a born muslimah named Samantha

so its all cool

as long as ur name isnt like a christian one or has to do with another religion

Answer 25

you can change Ur first name  i dont know in janna what u call from when u  go to janna  change ur name in heaven but in judgment every muslim call from his mother name  

Answer 26

changing your name isn't necessary and their is no such thing as a muslim name. a name is a name.

Answer 27

its best if u change ur name\

Answer 28

Salaam! Welcome to the Islamic community!

To answer your question. My mom was a convert a few years ago. Her name is Patricia. She never changed her name. You also don't have to change your name if you don't want to. I'm not to familiar with an Arabic name for "the happy one."

Hope this helps.

Salaam.  

Answer 29

you can change your name but alwayz remember the name you was born with