Must one change a name if its meaning is not good?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Names have an effect on their bearers, so it is desirable that names have good meanings. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to change ugly names to good ones, but this change is on the basis of desirability, not obligation, unless the name indicates servitude to other than Allah, such as "Abd al-Nabi" (servant of the Prophet) or "Abd al-Masih" (servant of the Messiah), in which case it must be changed.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/27460
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 27460
- 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