Question
My daughter is 6 years old. her name is Airah we call her آئرہ۔ but recently we came to know that the meaning of عائرہ similar to this name is not good. also meaning of عاہرہ also not good which again sounds similar. So we decided to change it. But according to the country's law, it almost not possible or very very difficult to change. So should we keep Airah آہرہ only ? which in google it has good meaning but in real it has no meaning. But still since we cant change it now can we keep it only ? actually, we tend to change this name to Azka 3 months ago and also announced it officially mentioning the reason too. everyone including us tried our best to call her with new name. but after three months we got the legal notice that the name cannot be changed. and now we are again announcing that the process cant be continued and hence we have to come back to the old name Airah
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedAfter reading your full situation, everything is clear. Your concern about your daughter’s name “Airah / آئرہ” is understandable, because in Islam a good and meaningful name is preferred. However:
“Airah” is not a proper Arabic or well-known Islamic word that has a clearly bad meaning. Words like “عائرہ” or “عاہرہ” are different. Just because they sound similar does not mean the same ruling applies. Scholars (especially in Hanafi fiqh) say a name is considered bad only when it clearly has an inappropriate or sinful meaning. Otherwise, it is permissible.The positive meanings found on Google (like “honorable”) can also be considered, and such names are treated like many modern names that don’t have a fixed meaning.
If the country’s law makes changing the name very difficult, then Islam takes such compulsion into account. There is no sin on you. In fact, your effort and concern show your good intention, and Inshaallah you will be rewarded.
Advice:
Keep “Airah / آئرہ” in official documents. At home or among family, you can call her “Azka” (which means pure and pious, a very beautiful name). This is completely allowed, just like a nickname. Many people do this. Slowly make your daughter familiar with both names.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
April 17, 2026
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