Naureen Choudhry
For many Muslim parents, choosing a child’s name is far more than finding a name that is beautiful or distinctive. A name carries meaning, identity, memory and hope. Parents often believe that a good name can influence a child’s character and serve as a lifelong reminder of the qualities they hope the child will embody. Choosing a Muslim boy’s or girl’s name thus becomes an expression of love, faith and aspiration.
Names can also reflect love and respect for the holy personalities and figures who have shaped Islamic history. Parents may choose names associated with prophets, members of the Prophet Muhammad’s family, revered companions, scholars or other figures whose lives represent courage, compassion, wisdom and devotion.
Muhammad, Ahmed, Musa, Ali, Hassan, Hussain, Hamza, Omer and Osman are common boys’ names connected to prophets or companions. Another common element is “Abdul”, meaning “servant of”, combined with an attribute of God. For example, Abdul Rahman means “servant of the Most Gracious”, while Abdul Karim means “servant of the Most Generous”.
Common girls’ names include Maryam, Fatima, Khadija, Zaineb and Sumaiya, many associated with members of the Prophet’s family or respected companions. Giving a child such a name can quietly keep these stories alive within a family.
Names also have a strong cultural dimension. For Muslims living in the West, they can provide a connection to Islamic tradition and earlier generations. At the same time, parents may want names that others can easily pronounce and remember. This creates a balance between preserving cultural identity and helping children navigate the societies in which they grow up.
My own name reflects this challenge. My parents originally named me Noor-ul-Ain, meaning “Light of the Eyes”. However, when they travelled to the UK soon after my birth and submitted documents for my passport, my Arabic name did not fit easily into a first-, middle- and last-name format. To simplify matters, they anglicised it to Naureen while preserving its root meaning.
Some parents choose names connected to ancestors or admired Muslim public figures and celebrities. In either case, a name becomes a bridge between generations or an expression of admiration, telling a story about a family’s origins and values.
I was reminded of this responsibility when a friend’s baby girl remained unnamed a week after her birth. “All names are beautiful,” she explained, “but no name is beautiful enough for your own child.” I have never forgotten her words.
When our children were born, my husband gave his mother the honour of naming our first child, while my mother named our second. This connected our children to their grandparents and to generations before them.
Ultimately, a Muslim child’s name can hold faith, character, heritage, family, admiration and hope – a story of how parents lovingly welcome new life into the world.
Naureen Choudhry is a community leader and recipient of the Victorian government’s Meritorious Service Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs.
