محمد

Modou

boyWolof short form of Muḥammad

Modou is a Muslim boy name meaning “Praised (short for Muhammad)”.

MeaningPraised (short for Muhammad)
GenderBoy
OriginWolof short form of Muḥammad
Arabic spellingمحمد
PronunciationMOH-doo
Arabic rootح م د (ḥ-m-d) — praise
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Modou

Modou is a Wolof short form of Mamadou or Momodou, both West African forms of Muḥammad. It is extremely common in Senegal and the Gambia, where it is used as a full given name. In Senegal it is also the source of the term 'Modou-Modou', a nickname for traders and migrant workers.

Is Modou a Muslim name?

Yes. Modou is a Muslim name, a Wolof short form of Muḥammad, the name of the Prophet ﷺ.

Is Modou in the Quran?

The name Muḥammad appears in 'Muhammad is not but a messenger' (Quran 3:144).

Where is the name Modou used?

Very common in Senegal and the Gambia.

Gifts with the name Modou

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Spellings and variants of Modou

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More boy names like Modou

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Modou mean?

Modou means 'Praised (short for Muhammad)'. It comes from Wolof short form of Muḥammad.

Is Modou a Muslim name?

Yes. Modou is a Muslim name, a Wolof short form of Muḥammad, the name of the Prophet ﷺ.

How do you write Modou in Arabic?

Modou is written محمد in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Modou?

Modou is pronounced MOH-doo.

Is Modou mentioned in the Quran?

The name Muḥammad appears in 'Muhammad is not but a messenger' (Quran 3:144).

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.