Riad

Riad (Arabic: رياض, romanized: Riyāḍ, pronounced [riːˈɑːdˤ]) is a masculine Arabic given name and surname. It means "meadows, gardens", deriving from the plural form of Rawda, which itself means "meadow, garden". The name is commonly associated with the Saudi capital Riyadh, whose name shares the same root (meaning "gardens").

Etymology and Usage

The name stems from the Arabic root r-w-ḍ, signifying lush vegetation and cultivated land. As a personal name, it is widespread across the Arab world and also among Muslim communities in non-Arab countries. Variants include Riaz and in Bosnian Rijad.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals named Riad include Riad al-Asaad (born 1961), commander of the Free Syrian Army; Riad Ismat (1947–2020), Syrian playwright and diplomat; and Riaad Moosa (born 1977), South African comedian and actor of Indian origin. Others include Bosnian footballer Riad Bajić (born 1994), and Algerian footballers Riad Benayad, Riad Benchadi, and Riad Bouchaker.

• Meaning: Meadows, gardens
• Origin: Arabic
• Type: Given name and surname
• Usage: Arabic-speaking countries, Bosnian, South Asian