Abu Dawud

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
Generally, people used to give their slaves these four names:
Aflah (successful),
Kamyab (successful),
Rabah (profitable trade),
Yasar (easy and simple),
Nafi‘ (beneficial).
Now, if someone comes and asks, “Is Nafi‘ here?” or “Is Rabah here?” and in response it is said, “I do not have Nafi‘ or Yasar at my place or in my house,” then this is a kind of ugly and undesirable situation, and some people even fall into pessimism because of this. This prohibition is related to etiquette and propriety; therefore, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not change the names of his slaves Rabah and Yasar. And the famous slave and student of Ibn ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) was named Nafi‘, who was a great hadith scholar and among the prominent teachers of Imam Malik, whose chain of narration is called the “Golden Chain.”

Explanation:
1: (Rabah) means one who brings benefit; (Aflah) means one who is successful; (Yasar) means ease; (Najeeh) means one who remains successful.
The reason for the prohibition of keeping these names is that if someone is asked:
“Is ‘Aflah’ here?” and the answer is given in the negative, then people, considering it a bad omen, will not regard it favorably.

Benefits and Issues:
In one hadith, the wisdom behind this prohibition is stated: because you will say, "Is he present here?" If he is not there, then the one answering will say, "No." (Sahih Muslim)
The meaning is that if someone asks, "Is Nafi‘ at home?" and in response it is said, "He is not present," it is as if you have said that there is no beneficial person present in the house, that all are useless.
Even though the speaker's intention may not be this, outwardly it becomes an inappropriate statement. Therefore, giving such names is disliked (makruh), but not forbidden (haram).