Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that a man, who was called Shahab, was mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him), changing his name, said: "You are Hisham (not Shahab)."

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that an old woman came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was with me. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked her: "Who are you?" She said: "I am Juthamah Muzaniyyah." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You are (not Juthamah but) Hassana Muzaniyyah. How are you? How have you been? How are you after us?" She said: "O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, I have been well and in good health." When she left, I said: "O Messenger of Allah! You pay so much attention to this old woman?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "She used to come to us during Khadijah's time, and taking good care of such a person is part of faith."

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to change bad names to good names.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the original name of Sayyidah Juwayriyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was Barrah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) changed it to Juwayriyyah. He disliked that it be said: "You have come out from Barrah."

Sayyiduna Utbah bin Abdus-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when a person would come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his name was disliked by him, he would change it.

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard any bad name, he would change it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a village which was called "Afrah" and he named it "Khudrah".

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Zaynab's name was Barrah. It was said that she declares herself to be pure, so the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) changed her name to Zaynab.