Can you please confirm the MEANINGS of the names of the 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quran, as my sister wants to name her baby, if it is a boy, after a Prophet. All the books about babies names merely state that Musa, Dawud, Zakariyyal etc are 'name of a Prophet', which doesn't help.
Ibraaheem: literally means 'father of the people' or 'most affectionate father'. (Qamusul Quran Pg. 22)
Ismaa'eel ibn Ibraheem: It is said that this name is composed of two words, Isma' meaning listen! and eel meaning Allah in the Syriac or Hebrew language. In other words "Hear and grant my prayers, O Allah!" Ibraaheem (AS) used to make dua for a son by these words. When his dua was heard, he named the son Ismaaeel. Ismaa'eel also means one who is obedient to Allah. (Lughaatul Quran Vol.1-2 Pg. 95)
Ishaq ibn Ibraheem: It means one who laughs. (Lughaatul Quran) To be far away. (Mukhtarus Sihah Pg.410)
Ya'qub Ibn Ishaaq: Derived from 'Aqb' which means Heel, behind, end, Supplanter- holds the place of another. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.565)
Yusuf Ibn Ya`qub: The beautiful. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.945) Extremely sad, derived from 'Asf'. (Mukhtarus Sihah Pg.34, 1020)
Shu`aib: It is from the word 'sh`ab' which means big nation or from the word 'Sh`ib' which means valley. ( Lughaatul Quran Vol. 3-4 Pg. 281)
In Sahih Ibn Hibban, Abu Zar Ghifari (Radhuallahu Anhu) narrates a lenghy Hadith, that there were four Prophets who were Arabs': Hud, Salih, Shu`aib and Muhammad.
Harun Ibn `Imran: Unable to locate meaning in Arabic but the Hebrew meaning is High, Superior, exalted.
Musa Ibn `Imran: Water and tree- He was put into a box made out of wood and placed in the river. (Lughaatul Quran Vol. 5-6 Pg. 478)
Dawud: Derived from 'Wud' which means Beloved. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.936)
Sulaiman Ibn Dawud: Derived from 'Salam' which means Peaceful. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.392)
Ayyub: Derived from 'Awb or Aaba' which means return, penitent. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.44)
Dhul Kifl: literally means "possessor of. or giving. a double requital or portion". (Source: A. Yusuf Ali, The Holy Quran: Translation and Commentary, footnote 2743) (Mukhtarus Sihah Pg.794)
Yunus: Derived from 'Uns or Ans' which means affectionate. (Mukhtarus Sihah Pg.50)
Ilyas: Unable to locate meaning in Arabic but the Hebrew meaning is, My God is the lord.
Al-Yasa`: Unable to locate meaning in Arabic but the Hebrew meaning is, My God is salvation.
Zakariyah: Unable to locate meaning in Arabic but the Hebrew meaning is, The Lord remembers.
Yahya Ibn Zakariyah: The living. (Lughatul Quran Vol 5-6 Pg. 210)
`Isa Ibn Maryam: Leader, blessed. (Lughaatul Quran Vol. 3-4 Pg. 378) Mixture of colour red and yellow with white. (Mukhtarus Sihah Pg.649)
Muhammad Ibn Abdullah: Praiseworthy. (Misbahul Lughat Pg.175)
