In order to give you an indication regarding the circumstances under which one should change their name, we have given details below of incidences where early muslims changed their names.

   1. Sayyidah Ayshah (R.A.) said that the Prophet (S.A.W) used to replace bad names with good ones (Tirmizi).

   2. Sayyidah Zaynab was named Barrah, meaning piety and goodness. Other Muslims remarked that she praised herself in this way. So; the Prophet (S.A.W.) changed her name to Zaynab. (Narrated by Abu Hurarah, Bukhari).

   3. Sayyidah Juwatriah (R.A) was also Barrah in the beginning. The Prophet (R.A.) changed it to Juwayriah. He did not like the people remarking that they has lost piety, so he replaced the name (Ibn Abbas, Muslim).

   4. A man was named Asram which means to cut or to sever. The Prophet (S.A.W.) asked him his name and when he disclosed that it was Asram, the Prophet (S.A.W.) exclaimed. "No! No. you are Durraa!" It means one who cultivates'. (Basheer Ibn Maymoon, Abu Dawood).

   5. A companion disclosed that his tribesmen called him Abu al-Hakam which means one who dispenses justice, although his name was Haani. The Prophet (S.A.W.), when he learnt of it, summoned him and told him that only Allah was the one to give justice and issue commands. He asked him why he was called Abu al-Hakam and he revealed that he judged among his people who came to him with their disputes. His people abided by his judegment and decision. The Prophet (S.A.W.) told him that he was doing a great thing and asked if he had any children. When he said that he had three sons, Shurayh, Muslim, Abdullah, the Prophet asked him to name the eldest son and he said Shurayh was the eldest. Thereafter, the Prophet (S.A.W.) told him, "You will now be called Abu Shurayh." (Nasa'i)

   6. Once Musayyib (R.A.) visited the Prophet (S.A.W.) and he asked him what his name was. He said, "I am Musanin (hard earth)." The Prophet (S.A.W.) said "No! You are Sahl (Soft Earth)" (Bukhari).

   7. The Prophet (S.A.W.) replaced the names Aasi (sinner), Adlam (desolate hard), Shaytan (evil), Shahha'b (a meteor), Ghurab (crow) and such others. He replaces Shahhab with Hisham, Harb (war) with Hasan or Husayn, Sha'b al-Dalalah (valley of erring path) with Sha'b al-Huda (the valley of the right path), Banu Gayaan with Banu Rushad. (Abu Dawood has narrated many such cases).