Given name & surname
Daud
“the beloved one”
Daud is a variant of Daoud. In Arabian use, Daoud carries the interpretation “the beloved one.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Daud is a variant of Daoud. In Arabian use, Daoud carries the interpretation “the beloved one.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
How it developed
Daud connects to the David name family through Daoud. The shared background comes through David: One explanation connects David with a Hebrew nursery word meaning “darling.” This remains a proposed derivation rather than an established breakdown into separate elements.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1984. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Daud connects to the David name family through Daoud. The history of David gives this family its wider story. The biblical David is remembered as the young challenger of Goliath and later king of Israel. In Britain, the patron saint of Wales and two medieval Scottish kings gave the name further local associations.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Daud through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 277
- 277 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 17 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #6,543 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −8%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,543 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 8.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 543 as a first name in 2020; 788 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Daud’s family of names
In Indonesian usage, Daud has a conventional equivalent in the English form David. Daud has a related form in Daoud. Daud has a conventional equivalent in the Chinese form 大衛.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Daud
- Dawoud RajihaMinister of Defense (1947-2012)
- Dawud Pasha of BaghdadMamluk ruler of Iraq (1774-1851)
- Al-Mu'tadid II11th Caliph of Cairo1354–1441
- An-Nasir DawudAyyubid Emir of Damascus 1227–1229 and of Kerak 1229–12481206–1256
- Daud Khan KarraniFinal Sultan of Bengal (1572-76)
- Dawud al-AntakiOttoman pharmacist and physician (15..–1599)1600–1599
- Daud BeureuehIndonesian politician1899–1987
- Daud Khan PanniNawab of Carnatic1650–1715
- Daud Khan UndiladzeMilitary general and governor1551–1601
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Daud, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Davyen
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Muso
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Dauda
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Mahmud
“one who is praiseworthy”
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