wAAD

Waad is a term and name derived from the Arabic word وعد (waad), meaning "promise" or "pledge." In classical and modern Arabic, the noun denotes a commitment or assurance and is used in various expressions and titles related to agreement or covenant.

As a given name, Waad is used in Arab-speaking communities and among the Arab diaspora. It can be transliterated as Waad or Wa’ad, reflecting the glottal stop in Arabic pronunciation. The name appears in contemporary naming practices and may be part of compound names.

Notable bearer include Waad Al-Kateab, a Syrian-British journalist, documentary filmmaker and activist, known for the documentary For Sama, which brought international attention to her work and to the Syrian conflict.

Beyond personal names, Waad also occurs in transliterations of Arabic terms into other scripts, and can appear in toponyms or organizational names where the underlying meaning is "promise" or "pledge." In most contexts, Waad retains its core meaning of a promise or pledge.