Naming a girl Yathrib
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Q: I named my newborn daughter al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (Yathrib) and some of the brothers in the mosque said that the name is not noble and that it must be changed. I inquired and learned that it is not beautiful, and that the Messenger of Allah prohibited naming with it. I went to our embassy in Jeddah to change the name in the passport, but they asked me to bring a legal fatwa. I hope you will issue a fatwa on this matter.
A: It is better to change this girl's name to another one for two reasons: First: Yathrib is the name of the man who founded the city, and it is not fitting for a woman to be named after a man. Second: The meaning of the word (Yathrib) is not good; because it is derived from *tathrib*, which is blame and reproach. It is better for a person to choose for his sons and daughters names that have good meanings, to avoid what they may feel as discomfort after they grow up. And what indicates the recommendation of choosing good names is what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did in changing some of the names of the Companions to what is good.
A: It is better to change this girl's name to another one for two reasons: First: Yathrib is the name of the man who founded the city, and it is not fitting for a woman to be named after a man. Second: The meaning of the word (Yathrib) is not good; because it is derived from *tathrib*, which is blame and reproach. It is better for a person to choose for his sons and daughters names that have good meanings, to avoid what they may feel as discomfort after they grow up. And what indicates the recommendation of choosing good names is what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did in changing some of the names of the Companions to what is good.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.