When should a newborn be named?
Short answer
Naming a child on the day of birth and on the seventh day are both established practices. Either is permissible, and the cited answer states that the seventh day is preferable.
Evidence and explanation
The source mentions reports of naming on the day of birth and on the seventh day and explains that both practices are established.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
وقت تسمية الطفل — فتوى ٩٣٥٢- Question
«يقول: لي أطفال يتوفون عند الولادة مباشرة ولم أسمهم، فهل تنصحون أن يسمي الإنسان الطفل عند ولادته فوراً؟»
English translation (unreviewed): He says: I have children who die right at birth and I did not name them. Do you advise a person to name the child immediately at birth?
- From the text of the answer
«السنة التسمية يوم السابع، وإن سماه يوم الولادة فلا بأس، ثبت عن النبي ﷺ أنه فعل هذا وهذا، فإذا سماه يوم الولادة فلا بأس، وإن أخره إلى يوم السابع فهو أفضل، والعقيقة كذلك يوم السابع تذبح عنه، عن الذكر ثنتان من الغنم، وعن الأنثى واحدة، يوم السابع، هذا هو الأفضل، ويحلق رأسه، رأس الصبي يوم السابع، وإن سماه يوم الولادة فكله طيب، ورد عن النبي هذا وهذا عليه الصلاة والسلام .....»
English translation (unreviewed): The sunnah is naming on the seventh day, and if he names him on the day of birth there is no harm; it is established that the Prophet ﷺ did both. If he names him on the day of birth, there is no harm, and if he delays it to the seventh day it is better. The 'aqiqah is likewise slaughtered on the seventh day: for a male two sheep, for a female one, on the seventh day; this is best. And the boy's head is shaved on the seventh day. If he names him on the day of birth, all of it is good; both were reported from the Prophet, peace be upon him .....
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
When to name a child
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him