How to Change an English Name to Arabic
Millions of people worldwide speak Arabic. In addition to native speakers, there are millions of converts to Islam who speak Arabic during prayers and various ceremonies. Since the religion of Islam started in Saudi Arabia, the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an, is in Arabic. The original prayers and duties are prescribed in Arabic and must be kept in this language. Because of this, many converts to Islam choose to change their English names to Arabic ones.
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Instructions
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Go online to a language translator. Type your full English name into the translation website and click the drop-down menu to select the language from which you are translating the name and the language to which you are translating the name. Then click "Translate" or "Go." Your translated name will appear in the box supplied for the result. Your name may be displayed in Arabic transliteration (which is your name in Arabic but using the English alphabet) or in Arabic script (using Arabic letters). If you cannot read Arabic script, and the site you are on does not provide your name in transliteration, go to a different site and put your name in the translation box, either in the script you were given from the last site or in English, then translate it from there.
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Locate the meaning of your English name. Some English letters have no Arabic equivalent, so you may have to look up the meaning of your name in English first, then consult an Arabic dictionary to find the Arabic equivalent. For example, if your name means "flower" in English, look for the word "flower" in Arabic.
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Change your name to the Arabic name of your choice. Many people change their English names to Arabic names after converting to the religion of Islam. It is perfectly legal for you to be called by this name or even to use the name on non-official documents. However, if you want to change your name to an Arabic name for all purposes, you will have to go through an official process. First, you'll need your birth certificate, then you'll need to fill out a petition, making sure you answer all queries on the application. You will have to go to court and appear before a judge to explain why you want your name changed. The judge will decide whether to grant your petition. Don't forget that after the name change is granted, you will have to change the name on your Social Security card too.
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- Photo Credit arabic image by Eldin Muratovic from Fotolia.com
