The Holy Prophet gave Abu Bakr the surname of Abdullah.[43] Before that, he was known as Abd al-Ka’abah (the worshipper of the Ka’abah) and al-Ateeq (the freed one). Although Lady Aishah had been quoted as stating that the Prophet called Abu Bakr, Ateeq Allah min al-Nar (the person whom Allah has vindicated from the Fire); em>[44] however, sources indicate that Abu Bakr’s father had called him Ateeq long before Islam because of the delicacy of his skin.[45] His mother’s name is reported as being Salma b. Sakher.
Abu Bakr was the fifteenth man to embrace Islam,[46] not the first, as some may believe and in his early days, he made a living selling clothing, as did Uthman b. al-Affan, Abd al-Rahman b. Auf, and Talha b. Ubaydillah.
[43] Ibn Qutaybah, Al-Marif, 167
[44] Tarikh al-Tabari, 2:615
[45] Tabaqat b. Sa’ad, 3:187
[46] Tarikh al-Tabari, 2:316