Yazids

Yazid is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is derived from the root z-y-d, meaning to increase or to add, and has been used across the Arab and broader Muslim world. The plural Yazids refers to people who bear the name, rather than to a distinct historical group.

Historically, several rulers of the Umayyad Caliphate bore the name Yazid. Yazid I (reigned 680–683) was the son of Mu’awiya I and his accession is a landmark in early Islamic history; his rule is controversial in later historiography, notably because of the Battle of Karbala in 680. Yazid II (reigned 720–724) came to the throne in a period marked by frontier conflicts and internal challenges. Yazid III (reigned briefly in 744) ruled during a chaotic phase that preceded major upheavals leading to the decline of the Umayyad caliphate. These figures illustrate the use of Yazid as a regnal name within the Umayyad dynasty.

In contemporary times, Yazid remains a common given name in many Arab and Muslim communities. The term Yazids, when used today, typically denotes individuals who bear the name rather than a separate historical or ethnic designation. The name continues to appear in various cultural, literary, and public contexts across the Muslim world.