Daoud

Daoud is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, commonly used in Muslim-majority regions and among Arabic-speaking communities. It is the Arabic form of the name David, rendered in various languages as Daoud, Daud, Dawood, or Dawud. The root is linked to the Hebrew Dawid, commonly interpreted as meaning “beloved.” In Islamic tradition, the prophet Dawud (David) is revered as a wise king and psalmist, which has helped sustain the name’s use across centuries.

The name is widely used across the Arab world, Iran, Turkey, South Asia, and Africa, with local spellings including Daoud (Arabic), Daud (Persian, Urdu), and Davood (Iranian, Turkish variants). It may appear as a given name in many cultures and, less commonly, as a surname in some communities.

Notable people: Mohammad Daoud Khan (1909–1978) was an Afghan statesman who served as President of Afghanistan after the 1973 coup and governed until his assassination in 1978. The name has appeared among politicians, scholars, athletes, and artists in various regions, reflecting its broad cultural reach.

See also: variants such as Dawud, David, and Dawood reflect transliteration differences across languages and Script traditions.