Naming Child with Muhammad or pairing it with Prophet’s name

It is reported that when Prophet Muhammad (salAllahualayhiwa Salaam) would name children with Islamic names, he would act in a way that showed he expected the best for the child. When we researched on the popular Muslim baby names that the Prophet gave to newborn children, the majority were either the names of other Prophets, like Ibrahim, or names like Abdullah and Abdurrahman, from the names of Allah, which referred to the qualities of Allah. 

We know that in general when a child is given the name of a Prophet it is because there is desire that the child has to, in some way, follow in the footsteps of that Prophet. Those who carry the Islamic name of a Prophet at the same time will act as a means of commemoration, as names are not merely words, but they become a way that a “connection” is established between the person or meaning that they represent and the world.

In our little explanation for Muslim baby boy names about the use of the name Muhammad we have already come across two different views. Although both are results of the respect for Prophet Muhammad, what is important here is what Allah’s Messenger has to say on the subject. The following hadith, reported by Muslim, is in connection with this.

Once when a man named his son Muhammad the tribe told him not to give the child the name of the Prophet. The Prophet replied “Name yourselves with my name (use my name), but do not use my kunya name (i.e. Abu-l Qasim).” In this hadith it can clearly be seen that Prophet Muhammad is not opposed to the use of his name.

The name Muhammad reminds Muslims to keep paying respect for the Prophet (PBUH) when once paired with the Islamic names. Also we keep acknowledging the fact that His attributes will be shown in the personality of the baby.