The baby name Dawda is a Boy name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced DAW-dah.
The baby name Dawda is a boy name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced DAW-dah.
Dawda is Arabic, Hebrew, Wolof in Origin.
Dawda is a West African form of Arabic Dāwūd, the Qur’anic name corresponding to Hebrew Dāwīḏ, the earliest biblical form behind David. The Hebrew name is usually connected with the root d-w-d, beloved or kinsman, though its exact ancient nuance is debated. Mandinka and Wolof phonology favor the final -a heard in Dawda and related Dauda.
In Senegambian Muslim communities, especially among Mandinka speakers in The Gambia and Senegal, Dawda is a familiar male name shaped by Islamic naming practice rather than by the Arabic word daʿwah. Its best-known bearer is Dawda Kairaba Jawara, independent Gambia’s first prime minister and president. Spellings shift with colonial and local orthographies: Dauda is common in parts of West Africa, while Dawud, Daud, and Dawood appear in Arabic-influenced contexts.
| Dawda Kairaba Jawara Dawda Kairaba Jawara was a prominent politician who served as the first leader of The Gambia after its independence, becoming Prime Minister in 1965 and later the first President in 1970. He played a crucial role in guiding the country through its early years of independence until he was overthrown in a coup in 1994. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT | Boys | 0 | #178 | 2 | 4,064 |
| Sweden | Boys | 2021 | #182 | 2 | 1,578 |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| GH | 0 | #233 | 11 | 5,396 | |
| AO | Boys | 0 | #245 | 5 | 5,568 |
| GH | Boys | 0 | #315 | 31 | 8,138 |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #331 | 2 | 7,401 |
| GH | Girls | 0 | #336 | 2 | 6,973 |
| SD | Boys | 0 | #461 | 6 | 10,523 |
| LY | 0 | #503 | 33 | 12,703 | |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #557 | 1 | 12,905 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #569 | 7 | 12,054 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #674 | 9 | 3,552 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #697 | 1 | 13,071 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #740 | 4 | 18,093 |
| TN | 0 | #864 | 2 | 13,765 | |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #889 | 42 | 5,610 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #993 | 9 | 16,906 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| MA | 0 | #1,191 | 9 | 20,986 | |
| DZ | 0 | #1,226 | 9 | 20,130 | |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,270 | 3 | 25,619 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,378 | 94 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,684 | 8 | 28,008 |
Dawda is popular in 22 countries — most recent births per country:
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