Assalaamu alaykum. We know that using the name Ar-Rahmaan is forbidden, but is it permissible to call a person just Rahman without the definite article 'Ar'? Is it not the same as naming a person ‘Azeez, which is applicable to both Allaah and people? Also, is it permissible to call a woman Ilaaha, which means female goddess? If not, then how should we call this woman when starting a conversation? May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The name Rahmaan is not among the common names that are given to Allaah and to people. As regards the names ‘Azeez and Raheem, then these are common names, and it is permissible to be named with them; we have already clarified this in fataawa 271513 and 299311.

As regards the name Ilaaha, then we have not come across a statement of the scholars about it. It appears – and Allaah knows best – that it is not permissible to be named with it, because it is considering a creature as god, while the true God is Allaah.

Being named Ilaaha [which means goddess], even if the meaning is not intended in itself, involves some prohibitions.

In his book Tasmiyat Al-Mawlood, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd quoted At-Tabari as saying:

“One should not be named with a name that has a bad meaning, a name that involves praising oneself, or a name whose meaning is an insult, even if the names are just names for the people and the real characteristic is not intended. The dislike is because if someone hears the name, he thinks that it is a characteristic of the one who is named with it. It is for this reason that the Prophet used to change the name to one whose meaning is supposed to be true when the person is called with it.”

Some scholars mentioned that it is blasphemy (practicing deviation concerning Allaah's Names) to call creatures by the names of Allaah. Ibn Uthaymeen said in Al-Qawaa’id al-Muthla, “Fourthly: it is when names are derived from one of His Names for idols, as the polytheists did when they derived Al-Uzza from Al-‘Azeez, and Al-Laat from Ilaah (God), according to one of the two views, and they named their idols with it...”

Therefore, this woman should be called with a good name that does not involve any prohibitions. She must change her name, and if she is young, then her guardian must change it for her.

Allaah knows best.