بِسْمِ الله والحَمدُ للهِ والصَّلاةُ والسَّلامُ على رسولِ الله
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen rahimahul-llah was asked about the ruling on using "Emaan" as a name. Below is his answer:
"What I see is the name Emaan carries a tazkiyah (commendation or praise) and it has been authenticated that the prophet peace is upon him has changed the name Barrah (mean obedient or truthful or doer of good) out of fearing tazkiyah. Abu Hurairah-Allah is pleased with narrated in Sahih Bukharee that "Zaynab(the prophet's wife) used to be called Barrah and it was said she was commending her self so the prophet peace is upon him named her Zaynab" Hadith no 6192. And in Sahih Muslim Abdul-llah bin 'Abbas-Allah is pleased with-narrated that "Juwairiyyah used to be called Barrah and the prophet peace is upon him used to hated that people say he came out from Barrah so he changed her name to Juwairiyyah" Hadith no 2140. Also, there is an incident when someone named his daughter Barrah and the prophet peace is upon him prohibited the use of this name and said "do not commend yourself. Allah knows best who are the people of goodness from among you". So they asked the prophet "what should we call her". The prophet peace is upon him replied "name her Zaynab". This hadeeth is in Sunan Aby Da'ood no 4953 and Al-Albaani said authentic in Sahih Al-Jaami' no 7297. So the prophet peace is upon him illustrated the reason of this being hated and that are two:
1-That people say "he came out from Barrah and he was at Barrah".
2-The tazkiyah (commendation or praise) and Allah knows best who are worthy of being praised from people.
So based on this, it is incumbent to change the name Emaan because the prophet peace is upon him prohibited what carries a tazkiyah (commendation or praise) particularly if it was given to a woman because Emaan is closer to be masculine rather feminine. And the speech is directed at the parents of the children who name their children with such names that carry tazkiyyah (commendation or praise).
Source: Collection of the Fataawaa of Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen rahimahul-llah, vol 25 pages 254-255
Notice: I heard Shaykh Ubaid Al-Jaabiree citing another problem with using Emaan as a name. The scenario when someone asks is Emaan here or do you have Emaan with you? And if she was not present you would have to say no which could mean you negating Emaan from yourself.
