Whether a wife may call her husband by name depends on local culture and custom. In rural Bangladesh, calling one's husband by name is generally considered disrespectful and rude, though in Arab lands it was customary. Islam's guidance here is that where it is customary and needed, a wife may say her husband's name at any time.

Husband and wife should address each other with respectful names, and it is natural for a wife in particular to show her husband respect. On this, Fatawa Shami states that it is makruh, or disliked, for a son to call his father by name and for a wife to call her husband by name. Ibn Abidin Shami (RA), explaining this, said: "Rather, one should call them with words that convey respect, such as 'O my master', 'father of so-and-so' and so on, or by linking them to a respected profession, such as 'Imam sahib' or 'Doctor sahib', because the rights of both father and husband are somewhat greater." (Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar: 06/418)

If husband and wife are of the same age or friendly with each other, and the husband is not hurt when she calls him by name, there is no problem in doing so, because Islam has a precedent. When Ibrahim (AS) was leaving his wife Hajera and infant son Ismail in the deserted land of Makkah, his wife called out to him from behind: "O Ibrahim!"

The full account is narrated in Sahih Bukhari. Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated that after what happened between Ibrahim (AS) and his wife (Sara), Ibrahim (AS) set out with (his infant son) Ismail and his mother. They had a water skin with them. Ismail's mother drank from the skin, and her milk increased for the child. When Ibrahim (AS) reached Makkah, he settled Hajera under a large tree, then turned back towards his family (Sara). Ismail's mother followed him some distance. When they reached a place called Kada, she called from behind: "O Ibrahim! With whom are you leaving us?" Ibrahim (AS) said: "With Allah." Hajera said: "I am content with Allah." (Sahih Bukhari, hadith 3365)

In various countries it is also customary to call one's husband by name. So in this matter it is important to keep social norms, respect and courtesy in mind.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.