What is aqiqah, and what is the etiquette of naming a newborn in Islam?

Aqiqah is the Sunnah of sacrificing an animal - traditionally two sheep or goats for a boy and one for a girl - to celebrate a child's birth and give thanks, ideally performed on the seventh day alongside shaving the baby's head and giving them their name, as described in the hadith: "Every child is in pledge for his aqiqah, which is slaughtered for him on his seventh day, his head is shaved, and he is named" (Sunan Abu Dawood 2838). The meat is traditionally shared with family, neighbors, and the poor, much like the Eid sacrifice. Regarding naming itself, Islamic etiquette encourages choosing a name with a good, meaningful sense - the Prophet was known to change names that carried negative meanings and to favor names expressing servitude to Allah, such as Abdullah, or names of righteous prophets and companions. Names implying false claims, such as those meaning "king of kings," or overt arrogance are discouraged. While the seventh-day timing is preferred, aqiqah and naming can be performed later if circumstances require, and the practice, though highly recommended, is not treated as strictly obligatory by most schools of law.

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