Rashad
Meaning of Rashad
Rashad is an Arabic boys’ name that means “rightly guided,” and it rolls off the tongue with two quick steps—rah-SHAHD in Arabic or ruh-SHOD in English—like a little cha-cha beat. It first sashayed onto U.S. birth lists in the salsa-soaked 1970s, broke into the Top 400 by the early ’90s, and today still attracts about a hundred families a year, sitting at #833 for 2024. Sports fans may think of UFC champ Rashad Evans or NFL running back Rashad Jennings, both men who charge forward with purpose—true to the name’s promise of clear direction. Rashad carries the warmth of desert sun, a hint of Latin ritmo, and an encouraging whisper that this child will know where he’s going and move there with heart.
Pronunciation
Arabic
- Pronunced as rah-SHAHD (/ræʃæd/)
American English
- Pronunced as ruh-SHOD (/rəˈʃɑd/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Rashad
| Rashad Evans is an American former mixed martial artist who won The Ultimate Fighter 2 and the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship before being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019. |
| Rashad Jennings is a former NFL running back who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants. |
| Rashad Vaughn is an American basketball player who starred at UNLV before joining Kesatria Bengawan Solo in Indonesia. |
| Rashad Johnson is a former NFL safety who starred at Alabama, played eight seasons in the league after the Arizona Cardinals drafted him in 2009, and now coaches cornerbacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. |
| Rashad Anderson is an American former professional basketball player who played college ball at the University of Connecticut. |
| Rashad Lawrence is an American football wide receiver who played college football at Northwestern. |
| Rashad Jeanty is an American former defensive lineman who played college football at UCF before spending four seasons with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos and later joining the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. |
| Rashad Salim is a London-based Iraqi artist and activist. |
| Rashad Wright is an American former basketball player who was the final pick of the 2004 NBA draft, spent his entire pro career in Europe, and now coaches at Holland Hall. |
