How to Give Your Baby an Islamic Name

In the Middle East, where the teachings of Mohammed are prominent, names for children are chosen with thought and care. The prophet Mohammad is said to have asked his followers to choose good names and to avoid empty names. The following are some Islamic names and their meanings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Names
• Books Of Islamic Names
• Genealogy Books
• Internet Access
• Computers
• Genealogy Software

1. Choose a happy, positive name for your child. For a girl, Aanisah means good-natured, Bahijah means joyful, Basheera means good news, Basimah (also Baseema) means smiling one and Hana means happiness. For a boy, Bashaarat means good news, Khurram means happy, Saalim means perfect, and Latif or Lateef means agreeable and kind.
2. Decide on a strong name. For girls, Amira means ruler, Majidah means noble and powerful, and Najida means courage. For boys, Adar means prince, Diaab means perseverance, Jabbaar means mighty king and Shadid means strong.
3. Opt for a name that symbolizes intelligence and wisdom. For girls, Nuha and Rashida mean intelligence. For boys, Fahim means intelligent, Rashad means wisdom, and Nabil or Nabeel mean intelligent.
4. Choose a name synonymous with beauty. For girls, Asma, Fareeha, Faaria, Mahasin, Nadhiyah, Zaraa, Zarifah, Zayn, Zeenat and Zulaikha are all synonymous with beauty. For boys, Ajmal, Arshaq, Husani and Husain all mean handsome.
5. Name your children for love. For girls, Rafiqa means sweetheart, and for boys, Rami means love and Habib means beloved.
6. Choose a name that symbolizes honesty. For a girl, Ameenah means trustworthy.
7. Try a name that symbolizes generosity. For girls, these include Samaah and Karima. For boys, Kareem means generous and noble.

Tips & Warnings

• Abdul before a male name means servant of. For example, Kareem means generous and noble, so the name Abdul-Kareem means servant of the noble.
• Keep in mind that these names come from various parts of the country and can be derived from different cultures. The spellings and meaning may vary slightly from region to region - check with your family or other resources if this is important in naming your child.