In Islam, reverts aren’t required to choose an Islamic name unless their given name is specifically from another religion or belief.
My given name, Kirsten, means anointed and is aligned with Christianity, but was given to me by my dad for our Norwegian heritage. However, I chose to also have an Islamic name because of my drastic change of perspective, lifestyle and heart after Islam.
I chose the name Momina, which means faithful and truly believing. I chose this name because I have always believed in Allah and the need for His guidance and mercy. Of course, I didn’t realize just how merciful He is until I found Islam.
My family and friends had mixed reactions to my Islamic name and wanting to be called by Momina. I don’t require them to use it or get upset if I’m still called by my given name or nicknames. But when someone calls me by Momina, it’s like an added reassurance and makes me smile at the remembrance of choosing Islam.
My maternal grandma was the family member who respected my choice of going by an Islamic name. She was the first to use Momina on any card or postage. In conversation, I was always, “Honey,” so there was never a need for an identifying name. But her acceptance and consideration always made me feel more secure in being different in religion to our family.
Learning Islam 