Q:

Asalam Aleykum,

I was born Muslim, however, I want to know if my name is haram/un-Islamic given its meaning.

My name, Duthi, is a Somali name, traditionally spelt as Dhudi.

The name denotes to beauty, however, I recently discovered that the actual meaning is “tall and slender” which directly correlates to a woman’s body type and its supposed beauty.

Is this not immoral to name a slave of Allah something suggestive like this? My sibling and other relatives all have names with beautiful meanings such as honest, lucky, flower, champion. And yet mine, is about my body? My physique??

It is in the holy Qur’an where Allah himself commanded the believing men and women to guard their awrah and chastity, and yet my own parents through their ignorance named their daughter after something referring to a woman’s physical attractiveness. This must be wrong as it is incredibly demeaning and offensive to me since my worth is not connected to my physical body and supposed attractiveness. My worth in the eyes of my creator is not skin deep.

It is also important to note that the name dates back to a long time ago, possibly before the first Muslims arrived in Somalia during the Prophet’s (PBUH) lifetime.

Apologies for the long paragraph, but I feel so passionate and angry regarding my name’s true meaning seeing as how I take my modesty very seriously and have never adorned clothing that would show my physique. It pains me to know my name is suggestive in nature.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

The name Dhuti has been used in various meanings in different languages: Thus, according to some,  it means luster, glow; and light, while in Hinduism, it means “Goddess Lakshmi or wealth.”

Having said this, if the meaning in the Somali language is the former one or something similar, then there is no need to change it; if however, it means the latter, then it is a pagan name, and you should change it.

Almighty Allah Knows best.