Question: Is it necessary for new reverts to Islaam to change their names? Should an adult convert be circumcised?
Answer: It is permissible for new Muslims to change their names if they carry wrong or bad meanings, as this is a sign of conversion to Islaam. If one asks the reason for a convert having changed their name, in most cases, their names before converting to Islaam were not suitable, thus they felt it necessary to change them to Islaamic names such as Saalih, Ahmad, `Abdullaah, `Abdul-Rahmaan, Muhammad, etc. Names which suggest slavery to other than Allaah such as `Abdul- Messiah, `Abdul-Zahraa, or `Abd-Moosaa must be changed to `Abdullaah, `Abdul-Rahmaan and the like, as servitude is to Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Alone. Therefore, it is best to change names which express servitude to other than Allaah and which are familiar and used by the Kuffaar (disbelievers) to Islaamic names… read more here.