Walid is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, derived from the word "walīd", which means "kinsman" or "relative". The name Walid is often associated with the Islamic world, as it has been used among Muslim communities for centuries.
The use of the name Walid can be traced back to pre-Islamic Arabia, where it was commonly used among Bedouin tribes. In Islamic history, Walid became a significant name due to its association with several notable figures, such as Walid ibn Mughira, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, and Walid I (709-715), the fifth Umayyad caliph.
In many Muslim cultures, the name Walid is often given in honor of one's family history or to express a desire for kinship and unity. It can also be used as a middle name or a surname. Today, Walid continues to be a popular name among Muslims worldwide, with notable figures such as Walid Jumblatt, a Lebanese politician, and Walid Raad, a Lebanese artist, bearing this name.
In terms of its spelling and pronunciation, the name Walid is typically written as "وَالِد" in Arabic, which is transliterated into Latin letters as "Walīd". The name is pronounced /wäˈliːd/ in Arabic, with a long 'i' sound similar to that in "machine". In English-speaking countries, the name Walid is often pronounced /wɑːˈliːd/, with the stress on the second syllable.
The name Walid has seen a steady increase in popularity over the past five decades in the United States. From 1969 to 2023, there have been a total of 961 births registered with the name Walid.
In the early years, between 1969 and 1974, the number of annual births with the name Walid fluctuated between five and six. However, starting from 1978, we begin to see an upward trend in the number of babies named Walid each year.
The peak in popularity for the name Walid occurred in recent years, with the highest number of births recorded in 2017 at 38, followed by another peak in 2022 with 20 births. This demonstrates a consistent and growing interest in the name Walid among parents in the United States.
Despite some fluctuations over the years, the overall trend shows a progressive increase in the number of babies named Walid, indicating that this name continues to resonate with many families across the country.