Fatwa No : 41300
Importance of giving proper names to children

Importance of giving proper names to children

What is the status and importance of naming a child in Islam? I have noticed that the people in my family give meaningless names to their children, which are similar to English names and some to the names of our ancestors. Is it permissible to give kind of name to one’s child?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It is of great importance in Islam to give proper names to children. This is one of the most important rights of the child upon his parents. The messenger of Allah has encouraged this and has also changed the names of many who possessed names which were inappropriate and disliked. For this reason, one should choose proper names for their children.
And Allah knows best.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

ففی صحيح مسلم: عن ابن عمر، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم غير اسم عاصية وقال: «أنت جميلة» قال النوویؒ معنی ھذہ الحادیث تغییر الإسم القبیح والمکروہ إلی حسن وقد ثبت احادیث بتغییرﷺ اسماء جماعۃ کثیر من الصحابۃ. (۲/۲۰۸)