Ruling on calling a child ‘Abd al-Muttalib
Question

                Recently I was blessed with the birth of a son, and I chose the name ‘Abd al-Muttalib, but some people said that this name is not permissible in Islam. 

Please advise me, may Allaah reward you.
Praise be to Allah.
    The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is haraam to use 
    any name that suggests being a slave to anyone or anything other than 
    Allaah, such as ‘Abd al-Maseeh (slave of the Messiah) or ‘Abd al-Ka’bah 
    (slave of the Ka’bah) and so on. They did not differ concerning that, except 
    with regard to the name ‘Abd al-Muttalib. 

    Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy on 
    him) narrated that Ibn Hazm said: They are unanimously agreed that it is 
    haraam to use any name that suggests being a slave to anyone or anything 
    other than Allaah, such as ‘Abd ‘Amr (slave of ‘Amr) or ‘Abd al-Ka’bah 
    (slave of the Ka’bah) and so on, except ‘Abd al-Muttalib. 

    The phrase “except ‘Abd al-Muttalib” suggests that this is an 
    exception to the consensus on prohibition, as there is a difference of 
    opinion concerning this. Some scholars say that it is permissible to use the 
    name ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and they quoted as evidence the words of the Prophet 
     (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “I am the Prophet and no 
    lie, I am the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib.” 

    This shows that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) used this name and approved of it, which indicates that 
    it is permissible.  

    Other scholars are of the view that it is haraam to use the 
    name ‘Abd al-Muttalib, because it suggests being a slave of someone other 
    than Allaah. Their response to the words of the Prophet  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him), “I am the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib” is that 
    this does not mean that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be 
    upon him) approved of this name, rather he was simply stating that the 
    grandfather of the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    was called ‘Abd al-Muttalib, regardless of whether this name is permissible 
    or not. 

    Ibn al-Qayyim said in Tuhfat al-Mawlood (p. 79): As 
    for his saying “I am the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib”, this is not intended to 
    approve the use of this name, rather he was simply mentioning the name by 
    which that person was known, and using a name so that it may be known who is 
    being spoken about is not haraam, and the exemption of the name of ‘Abd 
    al-Muttalib, as mentioned by Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm, has no basis, as the 
    Sahaabah also called the tribes of Banu ‘Abd Shams and Banu ‘Abd al-Daar by 
    their names, and the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon 
    him) did not denounce them for that. The issue of informing is broader than 
    the issue of giving a name, so things are permissible in the former case 
    that are not permissible in the case of giving a name. End quote. 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: The correct view is that it is 
    haraam to use the name ‘Abd al-Muttalib, and it is not permissible for 
    anyone to name his son ‘Abd al-Muttalib. As for the words of the Prophet 
     (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “I am the son of ‘Abd 
    al-Muttalib,” this comes under the heading of informing, not giving a name. 
    The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated that he 
    had a grandfather whose name was ‘Abd al-Muttalib, but there is no report to 
    suggest that he  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) named 
    anyone ‘Abd al-Muttalib or that he gave permission to any of his companions 
    to do so, or that he approved of naming anyone ‘Abd al-Muttalib. The 
    discussion is about the ruling, not merely informing. There is a difference 
    between informing and giving a name or approving. Hence the Prophet  
    (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O Banu Abd Manaaf”, but 
    it is not permissible to give anyone the name of ‘Abd Manaaf. 

    The scholars said: The one who describes or speaks of kufr is 
    not a kaafir. The Messenger  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    spoke of something that had happened and was over and done with. The correct 
    view is that it is not permissible to be a slave of anyone or anything other 
    than Allaah at all, whether that is by calling a person ‘Abd al-Muttalib or 
    anything else. Based on that, describing oneself as a slave of anything 
    other than Allaah is shirk. End quote from al-Qawl al-Mufeed (3/64). 

    Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd said in Mu’jam al-Manaahi 
    al-Lafziyyah (p. 383): The correct view with regard to the name ‘Abd 
    al-Muttalib is that it is not allowed. End quote. 

    Based on this, the questioner has to change this name to a 
    good name such as ‘Abd-Allaah or ‘Abd al-Rahmaan. 

    And Allaah knows best.