Short answer
Yes, and it is recommended. The Prophet ﷺ named his own son Ibrahim, and he said earlier nations named their children after their prophets and righteous people. Names such as Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Yusuf, Dawud or Adam are excellent choices in Arabic or English. The four schools agree.
Naming after a prophet is mustahabb. The name should be treated with respect, and it should not be shortened or used in a mocking way.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said on the night his son was born: I have named him after my forefather Ibrahim. He also explained that people before Islam named their children after their prophets and righteous people. The Companions named their sons Musa, Harun, Yahya and others, and Muslims have done so ever since.
Common questions:
- English or Arabic form? Both are fine. Noah and Nuh, Joseph and Yusuf, Jacob and Yaqub, Jesus and Isa refer to the same prophets. Some families prefer the Arabic form so the name is clearly Muslim. See Christian and English names.
- Isa (Jesus): permissible and used by Muslims for centuries. Avoid only titles that carry Christian belief, such as Christ.
- Respect: some scholars warned against prophets' names only where people insult or curse the bearer, which shows the need to honour such names, not to avoid them.
- Muhammad: see naming your child Muhammad.
Read the stories of the prophets to choose one whose life you want your child to know well, and browse Islamic names. The general rules are in best names and names to avoid.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Maryam 19:7
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا ﴿٧﴾
[He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."
Allah Himself chose the name of the prophet Yahya, showing the honour of these names.
Sahih Muslim 2315
Sahih... ولد لي الليلة غلام فسميته باسم أبي إبراهيم ...
"A boy was born to me tonight, and I named him after my forefather Ibrahim."
The Prophet named his son after a prophet.
Sahih Muslim 2135
Sahih... إنهم كانوا يسمون بأنبيائهم والصالحين قبلهم ...
"They used to name their children after their prophets and the righteous people before them."
Naming after prophets is a long-standing good practice.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on names and kunyas. Recommended names, including prophets' names.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.