dear imam, my sister recently had a baby girl and wishes to keep her name shaheen, i have argued that its a male name? please can you confirm if the name shaheen is acceptable? as i feel its a male’s name more than a girl’s name? we would appreicate your thoughts before we name her? if the name isnt suitable, please can help give her a suitable name please? as i come from a big family, everyone has taken all the good names, prophets daughters and wives name.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
“Shaheen” is a Persian word which means “a white coloured raptor (bird of prey) which could be a male or female[1]. Accordingly, Shaheen could be a suitable name for a female.
You may also consider the following names:
Bareerah (بريرة)-Faithful, devoted and pious[2].
Salsabeel (سلسبيل)- Name of a stream in jannah.
Afnan (افنان)- Branches of a tree.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdullah Ghadai
Student Darul Iftaa
Michigan, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.