It is recommended to choose a good name, for the Prophet ﷺ said: “You will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so make your names good,” reported by Abū Dāwūd.

The Prophet ﷺ liked pleasant names, and it is forbidden to attach the meaning of servitude in a name to anyone other than Allah—such as calling someone ʿAbd al-Kaʿbah, ʿAbd al-Nabī, ʿAbd al-Masīḥ, ʿAbd ʿAlī, or ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn.

Imām Ibn Ḥazm stated, “There is unanimous agreement that every name expressing servitude to other than Allah is prohibited, like ʿAbd ʿUmar, ʿAbd al-Kaʿbah, and the like—except for ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib,” for that is merely a historical description, as in the clans Banū ʿAbd al-Dār and ʿAbd Shams, and is not the same as initiating a new name of that sort.

It is disliked to choose inappropriate names such as ʿĀṣī (disobedient), Kulayb (little dog), Ḥanẓalah, Murrah (bitterness), or Ḥuzn (hardship). The Prophet ﷺ used to change unpleasant names—of both people and places—and he said: “The dearest of your names to Allah are ʿAbdullāh and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān,” narrated by Muslim and others. Therefore, special care should be taken when selecting a name.