Praiseworthy Names in Islam

Source: http://www.babynames4muslims.com/

When the parents intend to name their beloved child - whether male or female, then they may choose his or
her name from one of the following four classes of names:

 FIRST: That the child is given a name indicating servitude to Allah by calling him 'Abd (slave of...)
followed by one of Allah - the Most High's names, those which are confirmed for Him and the most
beloved of such names to Allah - the One free of all imperfections - are 'Abdullaah (the slave of
Allah) and 'Abdur-Rahmaan (the slave of the Most Merciful) as shown by the hadeeth:
.
 SECOND: That the Child is Named after one of the Prophets or Messengers of Allah - ('Alaihimus -
Salaatu Was-Salaam)
It is said that he. said:
And he said: You may name with my name. And we find that following this principle, he called his
own son Ibraaheem - after the name of his forefather Ibraaheem - 'Alaihimus - Salaatu Was-
Salaam -, he said: A son was born to me this night and I called him after my forefather Ibraaheem.

 THIRD: Naming after the Pious People - The Companions, The Martyrs and the Scholars - both the
Men and Women of Them.
Hoping that the child will grow up to love and respect them and follow their way and adopt their
manners in righteousness, knowledge and seeking martyrdom. For this reason the noble
companion az-Zubayr ibn al-Awaam radiyallaahu 'anhu chose the names of some of the martyrs
from the Companions for his ten sons, hoping that they would become like them. So he named one
'Abdullaah after 'Abdullaah ibn Jahsh the martyr of Uhud, and 'Urwah after 'Urwah ibn Mas'ood,
and Hamzah after Hamzah ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib - the noblest of the martyrs, and Ja'far after Ja'far
ibn Abee Taalib - the martyr of Mutah, and Mus'ab after Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr - the martyr of Uhud
radiyallaahu 'anhum ajma'een18 and what we have just mentioned is not specific to the males -
rather it is for both the males and the females. So it is indeed praiseworthy and beneficial for the
correct upbringing of daughters that they be called after the names of the pious women and those
who participated in Jihaad from the female companions and those after them, hoping that they will
follow them in piety, chastity and manners, and from these names are: Faatimah, Maryam, Asmaa,
Sumayyah, Nusaybah, Khawlah and others from the pious and believing women.

 FOURTH: GOOD NAMES WHICH DO NOT FALL INTO THE PREVIOUS THREE CATEGORIES
Names that are good in their wordings and meanings carrying meanings of bravery, chastity or
piety and easily pronounced, harmonious, and suitable and befitting the person who carries the
name. They should be far from that which has been forbidden in the Sharer'ah (which will follow)
and from the examples of this type are: Hamzah, Khaalid, Anas, Usaamah, Thaamir, Haarith, &
Hammaam the last two being the most true of names as occurs in the hadeeth19, and names like
them in wording and meaning and from the examples of these for daughters are: Saarah,
Hassaanah, Su'aad, 'Affaaf and other such names beautiful in wording and meaning.

For a Large collection of Islamic Names Click here  Muslim Baby Names