jawad

Jawad is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning generous or noble, derived from the root J-W-D associated with generosity and excellence. The basic Arabic form is Jawād, with a long a, and the name has been widely adopted across the Arab world as well as in Persian-speaking regions, the Indian subcontinent, and beyond. It is primarily used as a given name, though in some cultures it may appear as a surname.

Transliteration varies by language, producing several common spellings: Javad or Javād in Persian and South Asian contexts; Javed or Jawed in Urdu, Hindi, and related languages; and Jawad in other transliteration schemes. Pronunciation generally follows the Arabic form, with the emphasis on the first syllable. The name’s popularity in different regions reflects cultural values associated with generosity and nobility.

Notable people bearing the name or its variants include Javad Zarif, Iranian diplomat who served as foreign minister from 2013 to 2021; Javad Nekounam, Iranian footballer and former captain of the national team; Javed Akhtar, Indian poet, lyricist and screenwriter; and Jawed Karim, German-born American computer scientist and co-founder of YouTube. The variant spellings are regionally common, but all derive from the same Arabic root and share the same core meaning.