Muslims: What are your rules for choosing names for your children?

Question

You know, Muslims should choose decent names for their children that wouldn't make them any embarresment, wouldn't offend them, or have inappropriate meanings.

My rules (though I still have no kids!) are:

- names of prophets and messengers (males)

- names like abdullah, and abdurrahman (males)

- names like mohammed and ahmed (males)

- arabic names (males and females)

- names that are written and read in english without any ambiguity (males and females)

- names with nice and tender meanings in arabic (females)

- unique names not found in my family and close relatives (males and females)

I actually have chosen names for my sons and daughters (inshallah!)

- males: ibraheem, mahmoud, abdullah, khaled

- females: reem, hind, zainab, abeer

So tell me what are your rules, what names you will pick for your children (or you've already chosen if you have any kids), and what you think of the names I've chosen?

Thanks all Muslims

Answer 1

It Must be Muslim (Islamic Name) and it must have a nice meaning

Answer 2

Inshaallah i will name my daughters

Mariama, Fatima, or Zainab.

My boys will be

Bilal, Ahmed, Uthman

these are the names i will be choosing from.

Answer 3

For Muslims, names:

1) should be Islamic

2) should have a good meaning

3) may be after Prophets or good people

4) may be after some inanimate objects like Hira (name of a cave), Dia (light) etc

5) should not be embarrassing for the children

6) should not be after bad people

7) should not depict a negative character (i once heard this name of a very pretty small girl, "Khatra"; meaning danger!)

8) can be unique

9) can be on the names of the chapters of the Quran

10) should not depict superiority or shirk

11) cannot be from one of Allah's names (there are exceptions). if such names are to be chosen, words should be added before or after Allah's name: eg, Abdullah (servant of Allah), Abdul Ahad (servant of the One)

EDIT: 12) can be after ur parents' name by adding Bint-e-___ or ___bin___ or can be after ur children's names eg Umm-e-___ or Abu____.

i guess that's pretty much it :)

Answer 4

I don't really mind as long it's Arabic and Islamic.

Answer 5

it has to be a muslim name with good meaning