This sort of summarization task, especially when you can rein it in by making AI share its work, and by not asking it make conclusions about the data it finds, is a fine use for Gemini.

This was my prompt:

In layperson terms, explain the structure of personal Islamic names. Include a section on the particles prevalent in such names. Explain the differences between male and female names. Include a section on the differences across countries, regions and cultures. If using linguistic terms like demonym or patronym, define them in parentheses after their first use. Also explain, by country, identify documents and how or when they are updated (e.g. when children are born). Include sources, but Instead of inserting citation markers throughout the response , provide a source list, including URLs in parentheses (as appropriate), at the end of the response. If multiple citations refer to the same base domain, refer to the base domain instead of the specific page.

And this was its response – I knew the real basics (e.g. the 5 name parts), but having it lay out some of the details, like the national identity documents) was beyond my available time and abilities:

The structure of Islamic names can seem complex to the outsider because, historically, they functioned more like a “chain of identity” than a simple “First Name + Last Name” format used in the West.

In many parts of the Arab world, a person’s name tells a story about who they are, who their father is, and where they come from. However, this structure varies significantly depending on the country and local culture.

The Classical Structure of an Islamic Name

A traditional name is often built from five distinct building blocks. While modern official documents often shorten these, understanding the full chain is key to understanding the name.

1. Ism (The Given Name):This is the personal name given at birth, equivalent to a “First Name” in English (e.g., Muhammad, Fatima, Omar).
2. Nasab (The Patronymic):This indicates lineage. It is a chain of names linking the person to their ancestors, usually defined by the particle bin (son of) or binti (daughter of).
   • Example: Ahmad bin Omar (Ahmad, son of Omar).
3. Kunya (The Paedonymic):This is an honorific name derived from the person’s eldest child. It is a polite way to address someone socially. It usually begins with Abu (Father of) or Umm (Mother of).
   • Example: If Ahmad has a son named Hamza, Ahmad might be called Abu Hamza (Father of Hamza).
4. Laqab (The Honorific/Nickname):This is a descriptive name or title, often religious or related to a physical trait or virtue.
   • Example: Al-Rashid (The Rightly Guided) or Al-Siddiq (The Truthful).
5. Nisba (The Demonym/Origin):This functions like a surname and indicates where the person is from, their tribe, or their profession. It almost always ends in an “i” sound.
   • Example: Al-Masri (The Egyptian) or Al-Baghdadi (The one from Baghdad).

---

Common Particles and Their Meanings

Particles are the small connector words that link the names together.

Particle	Meaning	Context
Al / El / Ul	The	The definite article. Used before tribe names, regions, or titles (e.g., Al-Saud = The Saud family).
Bin / Ibn	Son of	Connects a man’s name to his father’s name (e.g., Saeed bin Ahmed).
Binti / Bint	Daughter of	Connects a woman’s name to her father’s name (e.g., Aisha binti Ahmed).
Abu	Father of	Used in a Kunya (e.g., Abu Bakr).
Umm	Mother of	Used in a Kunya (e.g., Umm Kulthum).
Abd / Abdul	Servant of	Always followed by one of the 99 names of God. Abdul is actually “Abd” + “Al” (The). (e.g., Abdullah = Servant of God).

---

Differences Between Male and Female Names

1. Linguistic Markers

• The “ah” ending: Many female names end with a “soft h” or “a” sound, represented in Arabic by the letter Ta Marbuta.
  • Male: Jamil (Beautiful/Handsome) → Female: Jamila (Beautiful).
  • Male: Samir (Companion) → Female: Samira.

2. Thematic Differences

• Male names often convey servitude to God (Abdullah, Abdulrahman), strength (Hamza – Lion), or historical religious figures.
• Female names often refer to nature (Yasmin – Jasmine, Warda – Rose), virtues (Amal – Hope, Iman – Faith), or the wives and daughters of the Prophet.

3. Marriage and Surnames

• In strict Islamic tradition, women do not change their names upon marriage. A woman named Fatima binti Aliremains Fatima binti Ali for life, as she remains the daughter of Ali regardless of whom she marries. However, in some modern Westernized contexts or specific countries (like Turkey or parts of South Asia), women may adopt the husband’s surname legally.

---

Regional and Cultural Differences

While the religious roots are the same, naming conventions change drastically across borders.

1. The Arab World (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt)

• Structure: Heavily relies on the Ism + Bin + Father + Bin + Grandfather + Family Name structure.
• Legal IDs: Often drop the “Bin” in English fields but keep the four-name chain (Own Name + Father + Grandfather + Family).
• Egypt specific: Often omits the “Bin” entirely. A person is simply named Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Ahmed [son of] Mohamed [son of] Ali).

2. South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh)

• Surnames: The “Bin” structure is rare. Instead, they use family surnames or caste/tribal names (Khan, Chaudhry, Patel).
• Honorifics as Names: Titles often become part of the official name. Syed (lineage of the Prophet) or Sheikh may act as a first name or surname.
• Naming: Names are heavily influenced by Persian and local languages (Urdu/Pashto) alongside Arabic.

3. Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia)

• Malaysia: Strictly follows the patronymic (name derived from father) system. Surnames are rare.
  • Format: [Own Name] BIN [Father’s Name].
• Indonesia: Very fluid. Many people have only one name (Mononym), like Sukarno or Suharto. They do not strictly require surnames. A child’s name might be totally different from the father’s name.

4. Turkey

• Surnames: In 1934, Turkey mandated surnames for all citizens.
• Turkification: Arabic names were adapted to Turkish spelling and pronunciation.
  • Muhammad became Mehmet.
  • Uthman became Osman.
• Patronymics: The suffix -oğlu (son of) is common in surnames (e.g., Davutoğlu), but the “Bin” system is not used legally.

---

Identity Documents and Updates by Country

How governments capture these names varies, as does the timeline for updating them.

Saudi Arabia

• Document: National ID Card (Bataka Al-Ahwal / Hawiya).
• Issuance/Update:
  • Birth: Parents must register the birth via the Absher digital platform after the hospital issues a notification. This generates a Family Register listing the child.
  • Adulthood: A separate photo ID card is issued to citizens usually starting at age 15 (mandatory by 15, optional from 10-14).

Pakistan

• Document: CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card).
• Issuance/Update:
  • Birth: Parents register the child at the local Union Council to get a CRC (Child Registration Certificate), colloquially called the “B-Form.” This form assigns the unique 13-digit ID number immediately.
  • Adulthood: At age 18, the individual converts the B-Form into a full photo CNIC.

Malaysia

• Document: MyKad (Government Multipurpose Card).
• Issuance/Update:
  • Birth: The National Registration Department (JPN) issues a Birth Certificate upon registration.
  • Childhood: From birth to age 12, children carry a MyKid (chip-based card without a photo).
  • Adulthood: At age 12, it is mandatory to apply for the MyKad (the primary photo ID), which must be updated again at age 18 to ensure the photo is current.

Egypt

• Document: National ID Card (Raqam Qawmi).
• Issuance/Update:
  • Birth: Births must be registered within 15 days at the local Health Office to obtain a computerized Birth Certificate.
  • Adulthood: It is mandatory to obtain the National ID card at age 15 (lowered from 16 recently). This card is the primary proof of citizenship.

---

Source List

• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Portal (my.gov.sa): Information on “Register Newborn Service” and Civil Affairs updates.
• Ministry of Interior – Egypt (moi.gov.eg): Regulations regarding Civil Registry and National ID issuance.
• National Database and Registration Authority – Pakistan (nadra.gov.pk): Procedures for CRC (B-Form) and CNIC issuance.
• National Registration Department – Malaysia (jpn.gov.my): Details on MyKid and MyKad application procedures.
• Encyclopedia of Islam (Brill): Academic definitions of Ism, Nasab, and Nisba.