Short answer
No, not as a rule. A Muslim, including a new convert, may keep a name with a good or neutral meaning. Changing is recommended when a name has a bad meaning and required when it carries shirk, such as "servant of" anyone but Allah. Some people change simply because they want an Islamic name.
Changing a name with a bad meaning is mustahabb, and changing a name that implies servanthood or worship of other than Allah is wajib. Keeping a permissible name is fine. A person must never change their lineage, that is, claim a different father.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ changed several names because of their meaning. He renamed a woman called Asiyah ("disobedient") as Jamilah ("beautiful"), offered to change the name Hazn ("sorrow") to Sahl ("ease"), and changed Barrah ("righteous") to Zaynab so that no one would praise herself through her name. He did not change names that were simply non-Arabic. The four schools agree on this.
When a name should change:
- It means servant or worshipper of someone other than Allah (Abdul Uzza, Abdul Masih, Abdun Nabi): change is required.
- It has an ugly, sad or sinful meaning: change is recommended.
- It is the name of a false god or a religious title of another faith: change is recommended.
New Muslims: a convert called David, Sarah, Mary, Adam or John already carries the name of a prophet or a righteous woman. A name like Emily or Jason has no bad meaning and can stay. Changing your legal name is optional; some converts use a Muslim name among friends and keep their legal name for work. See the new Muslim guide.
Children: parents may change a young child's name, and it is easiest early. Whatever the first name, the child keeps the real father's name in their lineage. To find a good name, browse the Islamic names list, and see which names to avoid.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:11
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌۭ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌۭ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ﴿١١﴾
O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Names and labels with bad meanings are to be avoided.
Sahih Muslim 2139
Sahih... غير اسم عاصية وقال أنت جميلة ...
"The Messenger of Allah changed the name of Asiyah and said: You are Jamilah."
Changing a name with a bad meaning is sunnah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6190
Sahih... ما اسمك قال حزن قال أنت سهل ...
"He asked: What is your name? He said: Hazn. He said: You are Sahl."
The Prophet suggested better names in place of gloomy ones.
Sahih Muslim 2142
Sahih... لا تزكوا أنفسكم الله أعلم بأهل البر منكم ...
"Do not claim purity for yourselves; Allah knows best who among you are righteous."
Names that praise the self are disliked.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on naming children and their kunyas. On names that should be changed.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. 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.