Is it wrong to think that naming a newborn with a certain name will make their characteristics similar to those of other people who bear the same name, and does this fall under the forbidden practice of Tatayyur (superstitious belief in omens)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
This way of thinking is incorrect. As long as the name is good, it should not be changed merely because another bad person bears the same name. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not command those whose names resembled the names of polytheists to change them. Rather, names were changed based on their meaning, such as changing the name "Barrah" due to the connotation of self-praise it carried. Nevertheless, there is no harm in changing a name to another good name, and this is not considered a bad omen.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/151151
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 151151
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy