Rachid

Rachid is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is a variant of Rashid, derived from the Arabic root R-S-D, which conveys the sense of being rightly guided or wise. In Arabic, Rashid can appear in religious and historical contexts, such as the term Rashidun, referring to the Rightly Guided Caliphs. The name has many transliterations, including Rashid, Rashied, Rachid, and Rasheed, and it has feminine forms such as Rashida or Rachida.

The name is widespread among Arabic-speaking populations in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and it is common in the wider Muslim world. Because of migration and cultural exchange, it is also frequently found in European countries with Muslim communities, especially France, Belgium, and Canada. Rachid is typically used as a given name, and it may appear in compound or hyphenated forms in some cultures.

Notable individuals named Rachid include Rachid Bouchareb (born 1953), an Algerian-French film director known for works such as Indigènes (Days of Glory); Rachid Taha (1958–2018), an Algerian-French singer noted for blending rock and North African music; and Rachid Yazami (born 1949), a Moroccan-born French scientist recognized for contributions to energy storage and lithium‑ion battery research.

See also Rashid, Rashida, and other transliterations of the same root.