Khadija

Khadija is an Arabic name traditionally interpreted as “prematurely born.” Its strongest historical association is Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad and an important early figure in Islam. For many families, that respected namesake is the reason for choosing the name, rather than its literal linguistic meaning.

Khadijah and Khadeeja are familiar transliteration alternatives. They represent choices about writing Arabic sounds in Latin letters, not entirely separate names. The initial kh may be pronounced differently by English speakers, so sharing a family’s preferred pronunciation can help. Khadija does not need to describe the circumstances of a child’s birth to carry its historical and religious connection.