Forbidden names or haraam names are generally terrible figures in history or represent a different religion. When choosing a baby name, it is also important for Muslim parents to select a name that is not considered offensive or insulting. Many full Muslim names also contain the prefix ' al' which is the Arabic word for 'the.' Many popular surnames include the words 'abd al' or Abdul which translates to 'servant of the' or 'slave of the.' Therefore, the name 'Abdul Hussein (slave of Hussein) refers to someone who serves the Islamic holy figure Hussein, grandson of Muhammad. For example, Ataya bint Ahmad is the daughter of Ahmad.

For Muslim girl names, the same naming customs are followed but using ' bint' (daughter of).

For example, Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, would be the son of Rabah. Therefore for Muslim boy names, the child's name will follow the pattern of given name + ' ibn' (son of) + father's given name. Typically, Islamic names follow the common Arabic custom of naming a child after their father's name and indicate familial ties. Therefore, it's not uncommon for a practicing Muslim may have a name with Indian, Turkish, or Nigerian roots as well. While most Muslim names are of Arabic origin, it is not required for those who practice or convert to Islam to choose an Arabic surname. The importance of this practice is to maintain connections with their lineage. Instead, women keep their family name or the name of their father their entire life.

In Islamic law, it is typical for a wife not to take her husband's surname. Islam places great emphasis on family relationships and lineages. In Egypt, for instance, a Christian might have the name Abdel-Massih, which means 'servant of the Christ.' But Muslim naming practices have moved beyond believers of Islam. For instance, Abdullah means 'servant of God, abd meaning 'servant' and - ullah being a variation of Allah. Last names are often associated with God or the Prophet. Muslims will often take on a last name with religious connotations or names honoring important figures in the Quran or the Muslim Bible. Muslims are followers of the religion Islam and the Prophet Muhammad or Mohammed. Traditional Muslim Surnames and Islamic Naming Systems

Muslim boys names s