Does a non-Muslim who is converted to Islam have to change his name? Is it permissible for him to use his previous name?

Does a non-Muslim who is converted to Islam have to change his name? Is it permissible for him to use his previous name?

Dear Brother / Sister,

There is no such obligation. A new Muslim can use his previous name. It is permissible to use the names whose meanings are nice in different languages. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) changed the names that were not appropriate in terms of Islam. It is sunnah.

However, the Prophet (pbuh) did not want those who became Muslims to change their names and those who were non-Arabs to replace their names with Arabic names. He ordered the names to be given to have nice meanings. 

He changed some names because their meanings were bad; he also changed some names with nice meanings because they would assume a different meaning when used negatively or because they would affect the owners of the names badly.

Questions on Islam