unprecedented names

[Aqdas]

i heard someone say on tv that the names muhammad, husain [can't remember if they mentioned hasan; i think they did] and ali were unique and no-one had these names before the people who we famously associate them with.

sallAllahu 'alaihi wasallam wa radiyAllahu ta'ala anhum.

is this true?

[abu Hasan]

it is true about Hasan and Husayn; as mentioned in the hadith.
Ibn Saád reports from Ímrān ibn Sulaymān; said he: ‘Ĥasan and Ĥusayn are two names from paradise; none of the Arabs knew of this name prior to these two in Jahiliyyah.
see here (http://www.sunniport.com/masabih/showpost.php?p=599&postcount=1).

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however, the name muHammad was known before the arrival of the prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. and some christian/jewish scolars who anticipated the prophet, had used these names for barakah/auspiciousness.

usually, there is a chapter in sirah books that lists some folk who were named muhammad before the birth of our Master sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

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i cannot recall that about the name `ali for the moment.