kunyas

Kunyas, the plural of kunya, are traditional Arabic honorifics used in many Muslim communities. A kunya is an honorific epithet that literally denotes "the father of" or "the mother of" and is used as a form of address and reference. It is not a legal surname, and it sits alongside the person’s given name (ism) and genealogical name (nasab) in Arabic naming practices.

Formation and usage: A kunya is usually formed with Abu- (father of) or Umm- (mother of) followed by the name of a child—often the eldest son. For example, Abu Bakr means "father of Bakr." If a person has no son, a daughter’s name or a notable nickname may be used instead. The kunya may be adopted by others and used by relatives, neighbors, or students as a sign of respect or affection. The Prophet Muhammad’s well-known kunya is Abu al-Qasim, referring to his son al-Qasim. Other famous kunyas include Abu Hurairah (father of the kitten), reflecting a nickname rather than a child’s name.

Women: Women can also be known by kunyas, formed as Umm- followed by the name of a child, e.g., Umm Kulthum.

Function and scope: The kunya operates as a social courtesy, often used in speech or writing within communities, in religious contexts, or in historical texts and biographies. It is distinct from a given name and from a patronymic or nisba.

Variations: Some families avoid kunyas in formal contexts; others may use multiple kunyas or change them over time, especially in intellectual or social circles.