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Fatwa CenterNew Muslimah Wants to Change Her Family Name to Her Husband's Last Name
Question
I'm a converted Muslimah who is looking to change my name legally. My first name (American) has a bad meaning, so I want to definitely change that. However, I also want to change my American last name to my husband's name. My American last name has a neutral meaning (not good, not bad), but I would really like a Muslim last name. I know that we are not supposed to claim that we are the offspring of somebody who is not our father, however I was told that a woman can change her last name to the name of her husband. Can I legally change my last name, or is this Haram?
Answer
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.
There is no harm in changing a name, especially if there is any necessity for doing so, such as when the name is bad.
Changing a bad name to a good name is an obligation. Therefore, your decision of changing a bad name to a good one is praiseworthy since the Prophet changed the bad names to good ones. Know that tracing back to other than the real father is forbidden. Taking the husband's name as the last name is as tracing back to other than the father, which is forbidden. Allah Says (what means): {Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you.} [Quran 33: 5]
Allah knows best.
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