Islamic baby names: a name your child will carry for life.

When a child is born, one of the first decisions a Muslim parent makes is the name. It is not a small choice. A name is spoken thousands of times across a lifetime, written on every document, and called out on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "You will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so give yourselves good names." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4948). This guide brings together the Islamic rulings on naming, the sunnah practices around a newborn, and two long lists, 80 names for boys and 80 names for girls, each with the Arabic script, a transliteration, and the meaning.

Why a name matters in Islam

In Islam, naming a child is treated as a right and a responsibility of the parents, especially the father. A report in Sahih al-Bukhari (6193) records that when a companion brought his newborn son to the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet named the child Abdullah and performed tahnik for him. The father did not object, because choosing the name is the parent's role, and seeking the blessing of a pious person to name or pray for the child is encouraged.

A name shapes how a child sees themselves and how others see them. A child named after a prophet hears that story repeated. A child named with a word for mercy, light, or patience carries a small daily reminder of a quality worth growing into. The Prophet ﷺ understood this, which is why he actively changed names that carried a heavy or unpleasant meaning. He once met a woman named Aasiyah, which means "disobedient," and renamed her Jamilah, "beautiful" (Sahih Muslim 2139). He changed a man's name from Harb ("war") and from Aas ("rebel") to gentler alternatives.

So the Islamic approach to naming is not about fashion or sound alone. It is about meaning. A good name is one that:

• Carries a sound, pleasant, or noble meaning.
• Does not contain anything offensive, arrogant, or false.
• Does not claim worship or servitude to anyone other than Allah.
• Is easy for the child to carry in their community.

The best names

The Prophet ﷺ gave clear guidance on the most beloved names. He said: "The most beloved of your names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman." (Sahih Muslim 2132). Both express the heart of the faith: a believer is the servant (abd) of Allah, and Abdur-Rahman names that servitude to the Most Merciful.

This principle extends to the whole family of "Abd" names, where "Abd" is joined to one of the ninety-nine names of Allah: Abdul Aziz (servant of the Almighty), Abdul Kareem (servant of the Most Generous), Abdul Hakeem (servant of the All-Wise), and so on. These are all excellent names because they correctly attribute servitude to Allah alone.

Beyond the "Abd" names, scholars have long encouraged three further categories:

• Names of the prophets. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Name yourselves with the names of the prophets." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4950). He named his own son Ibrahim after Prophet Ibrahim.
• Names of righteous people, especially the companions and the family of the Prophet ﷺ. Naming a child Abu Bakr, Umar, Aisha, or Fatimah connects them to a person of known character.
• Any name with a good meaning, such as words for faith (Iman), light (Nur), or guidance (Huda).

Names to avoid

Just as some names are encouraged, others are forbidden or disliked. The guidance comes partly from a hadith in Sunan Abi Dawud (4956), where the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have disliked certain names and changed them. From the texts and scholarly explanation, the categories to avoid are:

The Prophet ﷺ was strict about Malik al-Amlak in particular. He said: "The most awful name in the sight of Allah is that of a man calling himself King of kings." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6205; Sahih Muslim 2143). The names of the prophets and the righteous never carry this risk, which is one more reason they remain the safest, most loved choices.

80 boy names with meanings

The list below gathers eighty names for boys. It opens with the name of the Prophet ﷺ, moves through the prophets named in the Quran, then the major companions, and closes with further names of good meaning. Each row gives the Arabic script, a clear transliteration, and the meaning.

80 girl names with meanings

The next list gathers eighty names for girls. It begins with the wives of the Prophet ﷺ and the women of his household, includes the righteous women named in the Quran, and continues with further names of beautiful meaning.

Two notes on these lists. First, some names work for both boys and girls in different forms, such as Kareem and Karima, or Sami and Samia. Second, a few names carry the meaning of a Quranic chapter or a place in Paradise, like Kawthar and Tasneem, which makes them both beautiful and easy to explain to a growing child.

Naming on the seventh day

Once a name is chosen, when should it be given? The sunnah offers more than one valid moment, and parents need not feel boxed in.

On the day of birth. The Prophet ﷺ himself named his son on the day he was born. Anas ibn Malik reported him saying: "A boy was born to me this night and I named him with the name of my father Ibrahim." (Sahih Muslim 2315). So naming a child immediately, even within hours of birth, is firmly established.

On the seventh day. A second narration ties the naming to the seventh day, alongside two other acts. Samurah ibn Jundub reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Every child is pledged by its Aqiqah, which is sacrificed for it on its seventh day, and it is shaved and named." (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838; Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1522). And in Sahih al-Bukhari (5470), the naming of the Prophet's grandson is recorded close to birth with tahnik performed.

Scholars reconcile these reports by saying naming is permitted from the day of birth up to and including the seventh day, and there is room beyond that if needed. In practice, many families pick the seventh day so that three sunnah acts happen together in one gathering:

• The child is named.
• The child's head is shaved, and it is recommended to give the weight of the hair in silver as charity.
• The Aqiqah is offered.

If the seventh day is not workable, naming earlier or holding the Aqiqah a little later does not invalidate anything. The sunnah is generous here, and the intention to honor the practice is what counts.

Tahnik and Aqiqah

Two further sunnah acts surround the arrival of a newborn, and both connect closely to naming.

Tahnik

Tahnik is the practice of softening a date, often by chewing it, and gently rubbing a small amount on the roof of the newborn's mouth. The Prophet ﷺ did this for many newborns brought to him. In Sahih al-Bukhari (5470), Asma bint Abi Bakr brought her newborn son Abdullah ibn al-Zubair to the Prophet ﷺ, and he chewed a date, then put it in the baby's mouth, and made du'a for him. The same is reported for other infants of the companions.

If a date is not available, anything sweet of a similar kind may be used. It is recommended that a person of piety perform the tahnik and make du'a for the child, since the early Muslims sought blessing in the supplication of the righteous, although any believing parent or relative may do it.

Aqiqah

The Aqiqah is the sacrifice offered in gratitude for the gift of a child. The standard practice, drawn from the hadith, is two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl. Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ ordered two comparable sheep for a boy and one for a girl (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1513). The meat is cooked and shared, eaten by the family, given to relatives and neighbors, and given to the poor.

The Aqiqah, the head-shaving, and the naming together form a small celebration of a new life and a public declaration of the child's place in the community. For families who want the full picture of timing, animals, and distribution, our dedicated Aqiqah guide covers each step.

How to choose well

With two long lists in front of you, the choice can still feel heavy. A few practical thoughts can help.

• Lead with meaning. Say the meaning out loud. If it is something you would be happy to call your child every day, it is a strong candidate.
• Think about the whole life. A name follows a person from the playground to old age. Choose one that fits a child, a teenager, and an adult.
• Check the full name. The given name sits next to the family name. Say them together to be sure they flow.
• Honor the prophets and the righteous. Naming after a prophet or a companion gives the child a story and a model, which is a quiet form of upbringing.
• Avoid the warning signs. Make sure the name carries no shirk, no arrogance, and no ugly sense.
• Make du'a. Ask Allah to make the name a source of good for the child and to bless them with a character that matches it.

A name is the first word of a long story. Choosing it with care, anchored in meaning and in the sunnah, is one of the first acts of love a parent offers. May Allah grant every Muslim parent righteous, healthy children, and may He make their names a comfort in this life and a light on the Day they are called.

FAQ

What are the best names in Islam?

The Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman (Sahih Muslim 2132). After these, the names of the prophets, the names of righteous companions, and any name with a good meaning are all encouraged.

When should a Muslim baby be named?

Both the day of birth and the seventh day are valid. The Prophet ﷺ named his son Ibrahim on the day of birth (Sahih Muslim 2315), and the seventh day is reported alongside the Aqiqah and shaving (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838). Many families choose the seventh day so all three acts happen together.

What names are forbidden in Islam?

Names of false gods, "Abd" joined to anything other than a name of Allah (such as Abd al-Nabi), names claiming Allah's exclusive titles like "King of kings," and names with arrogant or ugly meanings. The Prophet ﷺ changed such names to better ones (Sunan Abi Dawud 4956).

Does an Islamic name have to be Arabic?

No. A name from any language is acceptable if its meaning is good and it carries no shirk or offensive sense. Arabic names are popular because of their link to the Quran and the companions, but the ruling is about meaning, not language.

What is tahnik?

Tahnik is the sunnah of softening a date and gently rubbing a little of it on the upper palate of a newborn. The Prophet ﷺ did this for newborns brought to him and made du'a for them (Sahih al-Bukhari 5470).