Is naming a person using one of Allah's names allowed?

In Islam, the issue of naming individuals with names that belong to Allah is nuanced and has been addressed by scholars through various sources. The Qur'an states, Allah's are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. 7:180. This verse emphasizes that Allah's names are indeed beautiful and sacred, and believers are encouraged to invoke Allah using these names.

However, there are specific guidelines regarding the use of certain names for individuals. It has been narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised against naming someone with names that are exclusive to Allah. According to a narration in Al-Kafi, Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah asked for a sahifah (a book) and he (the Messenger of Allah) wanted to prohibit the use of certain names to use. He (the Messenger of Allah) passed away but he (the Messenger of Allah) did not mention them. Of such names are al-Hakam and Hakim, Khalid and Malik. He (the Imam) said that such names are six or seven and it is not permissible to use them. Al-Kafi 10:10310.

This indicates a clear guideline against using names that may imply divinity or are too closely associated with Allah's unique attributes. The intention behind these prohibitions is to maintain the sanctity and uniqueness of Allah's names. Therefore, while it is encouraged to invoke Allah using His beautiful names, naming individuals with those names is generally not permissible in order to avoid any semblance of associating divinity with human beings.