My name is Benazeer; some scholars said that my name does not have a good meaning and told me to change it. I am now called Sarah. I want to know whether Benazeer is a good name or not, and when I change my name, can I change it as Sarah Benazeer? Is it good?

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

We have come to know that this name means the unique one who has no equal or equivalent. If this is the case, then it seems to us – Allah knows best – that it is disliked to be named with it as it is an exaggeration and constitutes self-praise.

An-Nawawi said:

“A widespread calamity that was reported in fatwas is to name a woman Sitt An-Naas (Lady of the people), Sitt Al-‘Arab (Lady of the Arabs), Sitt Al-Qudhaah (Lady of the judges), or Sitt Al-‘Ulama (Lady of the scholars) ... The answer is: It is intensely disliked; its dislike is derived from the meaning of the hadeeth: ‘The worst name (on the Day of Judgement) in the sight of Allah is that of a man who is called Malik Al-Amlaak (the king of kings).’ And the hadeeth of changing the name Barrah (pious) to Zaynab, and because it is a lie.”

Therefore, you should change your name, and it is permissible to be named Sarah, but Sarah Benazeer is a return to the same prohibition, because its meaning would be Sarah that is unique, or that is unparalleled.

Allah knows best.