Mahmood is an alternate transcription of the Arabic name محمود (see Mahmud) and also an Urdu transcription. It is ultimately derived from the Arabic root ḥ-m-d, meaning "to praise," sharing this root with Muhammad. This gives Mahmood the meaning "praised" or "praiseworthy." The name is common across the Islamic world, particularly in Arab countries, Pakistan, and South Asia. Etymology and History Mahmood is a variant of Mahmud, which comes from the same triconsonantal root as Muhammad. The name is closely tied to Islamic history; Mahmud was borne by Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030), the first Muslim ruler to carry the title of “Sultan” and a conqueror who established the Ghaznavid Empire in present-day Afghanistan and India. It was also a name used by two Ottoman sultans: Mahmud I (r. 1730–1754) and Mahmud II (r. 1808–1839), the latter known for his reform efforts in the Ottoman Empire. Notable Bearers Among modern figures with the name Mahmood are: Mahmood Ali (1928–2008), Pakistani radio, television, and stage artist Mahmood Hussain (1932–1991), Pakistani Test cricketer Shah Mahmood Qureshi (born 1956), Pakistani politician and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmood Shaam (born 1940), Pakistani Urdu-language journalist, poet, writer, and analyst Mahmood Yakubu (born 1962), Nigerian academic and chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Mahmooda Sultana, American aerospace engineer at NASA Begum Mahmooda Salim Khan (1913–2007), Pakistani social worker Mahmood Hussein Mattan (1923–1952), Somali man wrongly executed in Wales Variants Common variant spellings include Mahmoud (Arabic and Persian), Mehmood (Urdu), Mehmud (Urdu), Mahmut (Turkish), and Makhmud (Kazakh). The Kurdish form is Mehmûd, and the Uyghur form is Mehmut. Distribution and Usage Mahmood is widely used in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and among Arabic-speaking populations. Its popularity in the Indian subcontinent stems from historical ties to the Mughal and Ghaznavid rulers. Meaning: Praised, praiseworthy Origin: Arabic Type: First name Usage Regions: Islamic world, especially South Asia and the Middle East