Gad is a biblical name of Hebrew origin, meaning "fortune, luck". In the Old Testament, Gad appears as both a person and a prophet. As a figure, he is the first son of Jacob by Leah's maidservant Zilpah, and the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name is explained in Genesis 30:11, where Leah exclaims, "What good fortune!" after Gad's birth, thus naming him accordingly.Another notable Gad in the Old Testament is a prophet who served during the reign of King David. He is credited with delivering divine messages and advising David on matters of worship and military strategy. Gad's prophetic role is detailed in 1 Samuel 22:5 and 2 Samuel 24:11–14.Notable BearersThough less common in modern times, Gad is used as a given name, particularly in Jewish communities. Notable bearers include Israeli singer Gad Elbaz, Israeli actor Gad Keinan, and Egyptian Islamic scholar Gad al-Haq who served as Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Gad also appears as a nickname or surname, as with French-Moroccan comedian Gad Elmaleh.Usage and VariantsGad is used predominantly in English, Greek, and Hebrew biblical contexts. In some translations, the name is rendered as Gad. There are no widely recognized diminutive forms, though the name shares its root with the Arabic term “jadd” meaning luck or fortune, showing a common Semitic root.Meaning: Fortune, luckOrigin: HebrewType: Biblical (male given name)Usage Regions: Israel, Christian communities worldwide