Dawud is the Arabic form of David, a Hebrew name meaning "beloved."
Dawud is the Arabic and Islamic form of David, arriving in Arabic through Aramaic transmission of the Hebrew *Dawid*, generally understood to mean "beloved" — though some scholars propose "uncle" or "kinsman" from an older Semitic root. In the Quran, Dawud is both prophet and king, granted not only political authority over Israel but the gift of being able to make iron malleable with his bare hands and to understand the language of birds. He is also the recipient of the Zabur (Psalms), recognized in Islamic tradition as divinely revealed scripture.
His story in the Quran emphasizes justice, repentance, and the weight of leadership. This theological depth distinguishes Dawud from its biblical counterpart in subtle but important ways. While David in Christian and Jewish tradition is the greatest of the Hebrew kings — slayer of Goliath, author of Psalms, forefather of the messianic line — Dawud in Islamic tradition carries the additional weight of prophethood, placing him in a lineage that includes Ibrahim, Musa, and ultimately Muhammad.
The name has consequently been given with reverence across the Muslim world for fourteen centuries, from Morocco to Indonesia, and in diaspora communities across Europe and the Americas. Dawud has a warm, grounded sound that wears its history without heaviness. For Muslim families in particular it represents continuity with a deeply honored tradition, while its phonetic similarity to David makes it navigable in secular contexts — a bridge name in the best sense.