One of the first duties a Muslim parent has is choosing a name for the newborn child. Muslims must choose a name that has a righteous meaning, that will befit and bring blessings to the child throughout his or her life. Whether you are looking for a "traditional" or "modern" Islamic name, these resources will help give you ideas about names, their meanings, and their spellings in English.
1. "A Treasury of Favorite Muslim Names," by Ahmed Abdul Hakeem
An invaluable collection of over 2,000 Muslim names chosen from the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish languages. Each listing gives the original spelling, the meaning, and possible English spellings of each name. A 55-page introductory section gives details about birth customs and naming conventions in Islam.
2. "Digest of Muslim Names," by Fatimah Suzanne Al-Ja'fari
Another wonderful reference book for the most common Muslim names, including correct English and Arabic spellings, guide to pronunciation, and meanings.
3. "A Dictionary of Muslim Names," by Salahuddin Ahmed
This informative dictionary provides the original Arabic, Persian, or Turkish spelling of Muslim names, their meanings, and a listing of historical figures bearing the name. While the listings are exhaustive, not all names are Islamically appropriate; one must screen them carefully.4. "African Muslim Names," by Sharifa M. Zawawi
A look at Muslim names from the African continent, primarily from the Hausa-Fulani and Kiswahili languages. Includes information about how given names are chosen in African societies.