Can the name Eddy be kept, or must it be changed, when someone applies to change to an Islamic name?

Short answer

The Kedah State Mufti Department found that the name Eddy has no meaning in Arabic.

KedahOpinion (irsyad)

A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.

Authority: Kedah State Mufti Department
Status: Opinion (irsyad)
Series: Irsyad Al-Hukmi
Topic: Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication

No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.

Summary

The Kedah State Mufti Department found that the name Eddy has no meaning in Arabic. Even so, the name may be retained by adding Muhammad in order to preserve a name in Islam. The addition is intended so that mercy and blessing are obtained as a Muslim.

Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.

kalimah Eddy boleh dikekalkan dengan penambahan Muhammad supaya rahmat dan keberkatan dapat diperoleh sebagai seorang Muslim.

Excerpt from the original fatwa · Kedah

Read the full fatwa on the Kedah website (new tab)

How to cite

Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.

Kedah State Mufti Department. “PERMOHONAN PENUKARAN NAMA”, date not stated. https://ifatwa.kedah.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/13-PERMOHONAN-PENUKARAN-NAMA.pdf. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/can-name-eddy-be-kept-add-muhammad/