Choosing a good name
A name is a gift and a responsibility - what a person is called in this life and on the Day of Judgement. Islam encourages choosing names with good, true meanings; the Prophet, peace be upon him, said the most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman (Sahih Muslim 2132). The names of the prophets and the righteous are also recommended.
What to look for
Choose a name with a good, true meaning; avoid names that praise other than Allah, claim divine attributes, or carry a poor meaning. The names of the prophets, the companions, and the righteous are encouraged. A name beginning with Abd (servant of) must be followed only by a name of Allah.
A guide, not a ruling
The meanings here are a general guide; spellings and meanings vary by language and region, and scholars differ on some names. For a firm ruling on a particular name, ask a knowledgeable scholar.
Names carry duas
A name is the first gift a child receives and the one used most often - every classroom register, every introduction, every call to dinner repeats it. That is why the tradition treats naming with such care: the Prophet loved names with true, hopeful meanings, renamed some companions whose names carried harsh ones, and taught that servitude to Allah - as in Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman - is among the most beloved of all. A meaningful name works like a quiet dua repeated for a lifetime, and children grow into the story of what their name means; asking about it is often their first doorway into the language of their religion.
Using this finder
Filter by gender and type any fragment - a sound you like, an English meaning, or Arabic - and the list narrows as you type. Each name is shown with its vocalized Arabic so you can see and pronounce it properly, alongside its meaning in your language. Shortlist by searching for qualities you hope for in the child: patience, light, gratitude. When a few candidates remain, say each aloud with your surname, check the meaning holds no unwelcome shade in the languages your family speaks, and - many families do this - ask a knowledgeable person to confirm the meaning before the aqiqah. The search runs entirely on your device.