200+ Persian Baby Boy Names: Royal & Poetic Heritage

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This roundup pulls together names with real royal and poetic credentials — the Shahnameh’s epic kings, Rumi’s ghazals, the bazaars of Isfahan, and the Iranian diaspora now stretching from Toronto to Tehrangeles. A name like Darius or Cyrus doesn’t just sound regal; it actually belonged to kings who ruled half the known world. Expect a mix of ancient dynastic names and softer poetic ones, all drawn from three thousand years of Persian history.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Names From Ancient Persian Kings and Emperors

Heroes and Warriors From the Shahnameh

Names Meaning Light, Sun, and Stars

Names From Persian Poetry and Mysticism

Modern, Short, and Easy-to-Pronounce Names

Names From Nature, Animals, and the Garden

Names With Strength, Courage, and Honor

Names With Spiritual and Zoroastrian Roots

What makes Persian boy names so good for modern parents is how they balance softness and strength. The language naturally leans on vowels — Arman, Kian, Soroush — so even the warrior names roll off the tongue. Meanings cluster around light, fire, gardens, falcons, and stars, which is to say: nature and luminosity, not aggression.

If you have Iranian, Afghan, Tajik, or broader Central Asian heritage, this list will feel like home. If you don’t, you’re still in good company — names like Darian, Cyrus, and Kian have crossed into mainstream Western use without losing their roots. The trick is picking one whose meaning matches the kid you hope to raise.

Below are 200+ names organized by theme rather than alphabet, because a name’s vibe matters more than its first letter. Start with the section that pulls you in.

Names From Ancient Persian Kings and Emperors

These are the heavyweights — names worn by the Achaemenid, Sasanian, and Parthian rulers whose empires shaped the ancient world. They carry gravitas without feeling stuffy, and most translate beautifully into English-speaking contexts.

Cyrus

Origin: Old Persian (via Greek Kŷros)
Pronunciation: SY-rus · ˈsaɪrəs
Meaning: Sun, or like the sun
Popularity: #254 and rising (#296 → #254, 2024)

Founder of the Achaemenid Empire and one of history’s most admired rulers; reads as both ancient and surprisingly modern.

Darius

Origin: Persian (Old Persian)
Pronunciation: DAIR-ee-us · ˈdɛriəs
Meaning: possessor (of goodness) — from Old Persian roots meaning ‘to hold/possess’ and ‘good’
Popularity: #746 and falling (#728 → #746, 2024)

Darius the Great expanded Persia to its largest extent; the name has steady, presidential energy.

Xerxes

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: ZURK-seez · ˈzɜːrksiːz
Meaning: ruler over/among kings (a royal title of the Achaemenid kings)
Popularity: #5,209 and rising (#5,900 → #5,209, 2024)

Dramatic and uncompromising — better as a middle name unless you really commit.

Cambyses

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: kam-BY-seez · kæmˈbaɪ.siːz
Meaning: Eldest son
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Son of Cyrus the Great; rare and academic-sounding.

Ardeshir

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: ar-deh-SHEER · ɑːrdæˈʃiːr
Meaning: one whose rule is righteous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Founder of the Sasanian dynasty; common in Iran, still distinctive abroad.

Bahram

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bah-RAHM · bɑːˈrɑːm
Meaning: victorious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Khosrow

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: khos-ROH · xosˈroʊ
Meaning: renowned or of good fame
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Khosrow I was remembered as Anushirvan, “the immortal soul”; a name for a thoughtful boy.

Shapur

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: shah-POOR · ʃɑːˈpuːr
Meaning: son of the king
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Three Sasanian emperors carried it; sharp and unfussy.

Hormoz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hor-MOZ · hɔːrˈmɒz
Meaning: Lord of wisdom
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

From Ahura Mazda; the strait between Iran and Oman bears its echo.

Yazdegerd

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: YAZ-deh-gerd · ˈjæzdəˌɡɛrd
Meaning: made by God
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Last name of the pre-Islamic Sasanian line; deeply traditional.

Kavus

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: KAH-voos · kɑːˈvuːs
Meaning: Possessing good desires
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A legendary king from the Shahnameh.

Jamshid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: jahm-SHEED · dʒæmˈʃiːd
Meaning: Shining ruler
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The mythic king said to have invented wine, weaving, and the Nowruz holiday.

Hushang

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hoo-SHAHNG · huːˈʃæŋ
Meaning: Good choice or good discernment
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A primordial king credited with bringing fire to humans.

Tahmuras

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-MOO-rahs · tɑːhmuːˈrɑːs
Meaning: strong and brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The third Pishdadian king; rare and rugged.

Fereydun

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: feh-ray-DOON · fɛreɪˈduːn
Meaning: the third
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Heroic Shahnameh king who defeated the tyrant Zahhak; widely used in Iran today.

Manuchehr

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-noo-CHEHR · mænuːˈtʃɛər
Meaning: of the lineage of Manush
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The name relates to ancestry from the ancestral figure or mountain Manush, rather than meaning ‘from paradise’.

Kayhan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: kay-HAHN · keɪˈhɑːn
Meaning: universe or cosmos
Popularity: #5,538 and rising (#5,790 → #5,538, 2024)

Modern but tied to the kayanian royal line.

Kambiz

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: kahm-BEEZ · kɑːmˈbiːz
Meaning: Happy and successful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern form of Cambyses; stylish in contemporary Iran.

Khashayar

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: khah-shah-YAHR · xɒːʃɒːˈjɒːr
Meaning: ruling over heroes
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The original Persian form of Xerxes — softer to Western ears than the Greek version.

Anushirvan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-noo-sheer-VAHN · ænuːʃiːrˈvɒːn
Meaning: of immortal soul
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bahman

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bah-MAHN · bæhˈmɒːn
Meaning: good mind or good thought
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Zoroastrian archangel name and a winter month in the Iranian calendar.

Arsalan

Origin: Persian/Turkic
Pronunciation: ar-suh-LAHN · ˌɑːrsəˈlɑːn
Meaning: lion
Popularity: #2,184 and falling (#2,029 → #2,184, 2024)

Worn by Seljuk sultans; popular across the Persianate world.

Tahmasp

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-MAHSP · tɑːhˈmɑːsp
Meaning: having brave horses
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Two Safavid shahs bore it; antique and crisp.

Nader

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAH-der · ˈnɑːdər
Meaning: rare and uncommon
Popularity: #11,859 and falling (#8,701 → #11,859, 2024)

Nader Shah was the 18th-century conqueror called “the Persian Napoleon.”

Karim

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kah-REEM · kɑːˈriːm
Meaning: generous, noble
Popularity: #819 and falling (#705 → #819, 2024)

Karim Khan Zand ruled with such fairness he refused the title of king.

Abbas

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-BAHS · əˈbɑːs
Meaning: stern, frowning, or lion
Popularity: #1,872 and rising (#2,128 → #1,872, 2024)

Shah Abbas I made Isfahan one of the world’s great capitals.

Ismail

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: iss-mah-EEL · ɪsmɑːˈiːl
Meaning: God will hear
Popularity: #1,228 and rising (#1,398 → #1,228, 2024)

Shah Ismail founded the Safavid dynasty at 14.

Heroes and Warriors From the Shahnameh

Ferdowsi’s 10th-century epic, the Shahnameh (“Book of Kings”), is the cornerstone of Persian identity. Its 50,000 couplets are full of warriors whose names still feel alive a thousand years later — equal parts noble and tragic.

Rostam

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ROH-stahm · ˈroʊstɑːm
Meaning: mighty, of great stature
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The greatest hero of the Shahnameh; the Persian equivalent of Hercules or Achilles.

Sohrab

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: soh-RAHB · soʊˈrɑːb
Meaning: Illustrious, shining
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rostam’s son, killed by his own father in one of the most famous tragedies in world literature.

Esfandiar

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: es-fan-dee-AHR · ɛsfændiːˈɑːr
Meaning: given by the holy spirit
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

An invincible prince — except for his eyes.

Siavash

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: see-ah-VASH · siːɒːˈvæʃ
Meaning: possessing black stallions
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A pure-hearted prince whose innocent death made him a symbol of martyrdom.

Kaveh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: KAH-veh · kɑːˈve
Meaning: a legendary blacksmith who rebelled against a tyrant king
Popularity: #13,229 and falling (#6,712 → #13,229, 2024)

The blacksmith whose leather apron became the flag of Persian resistance.

Giv

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: GEEV · ɡiːv
Meaning: Hero
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of Rostam’s loyal companions; short and punchy.

Bijan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bee-ZHAHN · biˈʒɑːn
Meaning: hero, full of life (name of a legendary hero in the Persian Shahnameh)
Popularity: #7,808 and rising (#11,051 → #7,808, 2024)

His love story with Manijeh is one of the Shahnameh’s great romances.

Faramarz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-rah-MARZ · færɒːˈmærz
Meaning: One who keeps order
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rostam’s son who avenged his father.

Tus

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: TOOS · tuːs
Meaning: Strong
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Pishdadian prince and Iranian commander.

Goudarz

Origin: Persian (legendary Shahnameh hero name, cognate with the Parthian royal name Gotarzes)
Pronunciation: goo-DARZ · ɡowˈdærz
Meaning: Famed warrior
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The patriarch of a great heroic clan.

Zal

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ZAHL · zɑːl
Meaning: albino
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rostam’s father, born with white hair and raised by the mythical Simorgh bird.

Garshasp

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: gar-SHAHSP · ɡɑːrˈʃɑːsp
Meaning: possessing slender horses
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A primordial dragon-slaying hero.

Iraj

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ee-RAHJ · iːˈɾædʒ
Meaning: Belonging to the Aryans
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The youngest son of Fereydun whose murder set generations of war in motion.

Tur

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: TOOR · tuːr
Meaning: brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Iraj’s brother, ancestor of the Turanians.

Salm

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SAHLM · sælm
Meaning: peaceful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The eldest of Fereydun’s three sons.

Kayqobad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: kay-koh-BAHD · keɪkoʊˈbɑːd
Meaning: Beloved king
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The first Kayanian king, raised from obscurity by Rostam.

Hooman

Origin: Persian (from Pahlavi)
Pronunciation: hoo-MAHN · huːˈmɑːn
Meaning: Good-natured
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Turanian warrior; modern Iranians use this widely.

Piran

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: PEER-un · ˈpɪər.ən
Meaning: ancient, old, or wise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The honorable Turanian counselor.

Kayhosrow

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: kye-KHOS-roh · keɪxɒsˈroʊ
Meaning: renowned king
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The grandson of Siavash who avenged him; considered an ideal ruler.

Borzu

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bor-ZOO · bɔːrˈzuː
Meaning: tall, exalted stature
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sohrab’s son, hero of the Borzunameh.

Aghrirath

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: agh-REE-raht · æɣ.riːˈræt
Meaning: having the foremost chariot
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tur’s just brother; obscure and antique.

Arash

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-RAHSH · ɑːˈrɑːʃ
Meaning: Bright, shining
Popularity: #6,187 and falling (#5,477 → #6,187, 2024)

The legendary archer who shot an arrow to define Iran’s border, dying from the effort.

Behzad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-ZAHD · behˈzɒːd
Meaning: nobly born, of good lineage
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Siavash’s miraculous horse, and a popular modern name.

Rakhsh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: RAHKHSH · ræxʃ
Meaning: luminous or swift
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rostam’s loyal stallion; used occasionally as a bold first name.

Names Meaning Light, Sun, and Stars

Persian is unusually rich in words for radiance. Maybe it’s the desert sky, maybe it’s the Zoroastrian reverence for fire — either way, you’ll find dozens of names tied to brightness, dawn, and celestial light.

Roshan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: roh-SHAHN · roʊˈʃɑːn
Meaning: light, bright
Popularity: #3,754 and falling (#3,541 → #3,754, 2024)

Soft and luminous; works beautifully across cultures.

Anvar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ahn-VAHR · ˈænvɑːr
Meaning: brighter or more radiant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A comparative form — “more luminous than the rest.”

Behrooz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-ROOZ · behˈruːz
Meaning: prosperous, fortunate day
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries an optimistic, sunlit feeling.

Nima

Origin: Persian (boy’s name); unrelated Indian name (girl’s, from Sanskrit)
Pronunciation: NEE-mah · ˈniːmɑː
Meaning: unclear for the Persian name; the separate Indian name means ‘moon’
Popularity: #6,354 and falling (#5,848 → #6,354, 2024)

Compact and modern; Nima Yushij is considered the father of modern Persian poetry.

Shahab

Origin: Arabic, via Persian
Pronunciation: shah-HAHB · ʃæˈhɑːb
Meaning: shooting star, meteor, or flame
Popularity: #10,626 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Striking imagery — a flash across the sky.

Aftab

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: AHF-tahb · ɒːfˈtɒːb
Meaning: sun or sunlight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Direct and warm; less common as a first name in Iran but used in the diaspora.

Khورshид

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: kor-SHEED
Meaning: Sun
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often transliterated Khorshid; lovely meaning, demanding spelling.

Mehrdad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mehr-DAHD · mɛhrˈdɑːd
Meaning: generally parsed as a compound of “Mehr” (sun / the deity Mithra) and “dad” (given, gift) — roughly “gift of the sun/Mithra”
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mehran

Origin: Persian, via Pahlavi
Pronunciation: meh-RAHN · mɛhˈrɑːn
Meaning: linked to “Mehr” and to Mithra, the ancient Iranian god of the sun, light, and covenant
Popularity: #3,940 and rising (#4,834 → #3,940, 2024)

A common, gentle modern Iranian name.

Mehrab

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-RAHB · mɛhˈrɑːb
Meaning: sun-water or luster of the sun
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zal’s father-in-law in the Shahnameh.

Mitra

Origin: Sanskrit/Avestan (Indo-Iranian)
Pronunciation: MEE-trah · ˈmiːtrə
Meaning: friend, covenant (name of the Vedic/Zoroastrian deity of friendship and contracts)
Popularity: #9,993 and rising (#16,817 → #9,993, 2024)

A Zoroastrian deity of light and contracts; used for boys in Iran though more often a girl’s name in the West.

Shahin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-HEEN · ʃɑːˈhiːn
Meaning: falcon (a swift falcon species)
Popularity: #12,086 and falling (#12,014 → #12,086, 2024)

Strong, regal, with a flying-high quality.

Setareh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seh-tah-REH · sɛtɑːˈrɛ
Meaning: star
Popularity: #13,204 and falling (#10,189 → #13,204, 2024)

Usually feminine, but used as a poetic boy’s name in some families.

Faraz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-RAHZ · fæˈrɒːz
Meaning: height, ascent; exalted
Popularity: #9,239 and falling (#7,028 → #9,239, 2024)

Modern and aspirational.

Farzad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fahr-ZAHD · færˈzɒːd
Meaning: splendid birth
Popularity: #6,251 and rising (#12,947 → #6,251, 2024)

Carries a sense of radiant arrival.

Farrokh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fuh-ROKH · fəˈroʊk
Meaning: happy, fortunate
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara — a Parsi name carried into rock history.

Farhad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: far-HAHD · fɑːrˈhɑːd
Meaning: Glory, happiness
Popularity: #11,324 and falling (#11,301 → #11,324, 2024)

The hero of the romantic epic Khosrow and Shirin.

Faramand

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-rah-MAND · færɒːˈmænd
Meaning: Possessing splendor
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Stately and rare.

Farbod

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fahr-BOHD · færˈboːd
Meaning: Guardian of glory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern coinage from classical roots.

Foroud

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: foh-ROOD · foˈruːd
Meaning: descent
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Shahnameh prince killed by misunderstanding.

Houman

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hoo-MAHN · huːˈmɑːn
Meaning: good mind, good thought
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also rendered Hooman; sunny and approachable.

Iman

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ee-MAHN · iːˈmɑːn
Meaning: faith, belief
Popularity: #1,892 and rising (#2,297 → #1,892, 2024)

Quiet and grounded.

Kasra

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: KAS-rah · kæsˈrɑː
Meaning: King or ruler
Popularity: #6,012 and falling (#4,280 → #6,012, 2024)

Modern reworking that feels fresh in the diaspora.

Kian

Origin: Irish (anglicized Cian) and/or Persian (independent name)
Pronunciation: KEE-an · ˈkiːən
Meaning: Irish: ‘ancient’ (via Cian); separately, Persian: ‘king’/’realm’
Popularity: #416 and rising (#428 → #416, 2024)

Short, strong, and rapidly crossing over in the US and UK.

Kourosh

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: KOO-rohsh · ˈkuːroʊʃ
Meaning: The native Persian form of Cyrus
Popularity: #11,700 and rising (#13,222 → #11,700, 2024)

Many Iranian parents prefer it to the Greek version.

Soroush

Origin: Persian (from Avestan Sraoša)
Pronunciation: soh-ROOSH · soʊˈruːʃ
Meaning: hearkening, obedience (from a root meaning ‘to hear’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The divine herald of good news in Zoroastrian belief.

Names From Persian Poetry and Mysticism

Persian literature — Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, Khayyam — has shaped how Iranians name their children for centuries. These names carry the soft, contemplative feeling of a ghazal recited over tea.

Hafez

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-FEZ · hɑːˈfɛz
Meaning: Guardian, keeper, or one who memorizes
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The 14th-century poet of Shiraz whose Divan still sits on most Iranian shelves.

Saadi

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-dee · ˈsaːdi
Meaning: fortunate or blessed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The 13th-century poet of the Gulistan and Bustan.

Rumi

Origin: Persian / Arabic
Pronunciation: ROO-mee · ˈruːmi
Meaning: From Rum, Anatolia
Popularity: #2,146 and rising (#2,268 → #2,146, 2024)

The world-famous mystic poet; rarely used as a first name in Iran but increasingly chosen abroad.

Khayyam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kye-YAHM · xaɪˈjɑːm
Meaning: tentmaker
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Omar Khayyam wrote both immortal quatrains and serious algebra.

Attar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-TAR · əˈtɑːr
Meaning: perfumer or apothecary
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The mystic poet who wrote The Conference of the Birds.

Ferdowsi

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fer-DOH-see · fɛrˈdoʊsiː
Meaning: of paradise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Manouchehr

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-noo-CHEHR · mænuːˈtʃɛər
Meaning: of the lineage of Manush
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A poet’s choice as well as a king’s.

Shamlou

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shahm-LOO · ʃɑːmˈluː
Meaning: from the Shamlu tribe
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ahmad Shamlou redefined modern Persian poetry; bold as a first or middle name.

Mehdi

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: meh-DEE · mɛhˈdiː
Meaning: guided one
Popularity: #3,939 and rising (#4,684 → #3,939, 2024)

Carries both spiritual and literary weight.

Mowlavi

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mow-LAH-vee · moʊˈlɑːvi
Meaning: my master or my lord
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Another name for Rumi; reverent and uncommon.

Naser

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAH-ser · ˈnɑːsər
Meaning: helper or grantor of victory
Popularity: #8,115 and rising (#8,706 → #8,115, 2024)

Naser Khosrow was an 11th-century philosopher-poet.

Sepehr

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seh-PEHR · sɛˈpɛhr
Meaning: sky, heavens, the celestial sphere
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sohrab Sepehri’s surname; expansive and lyrical.

Sohail

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: so-HAYL · soʊˈheɪl
Meaning: Canopus, the second-brightest star
Popularity: #6,398 and rising (#7,230 → #6,398, 2024)

Parviz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: par-VEEZ · pærˈviːz
Meaning: victorious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tied to Khosrow Parviz and to many modern Iranian writers.

Shahriar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-ree-AHR · ʃæhriːˈɒːr
Meaning: sovereign or ruler
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the name of one of the most beloved 20th-century Iranian poets.

Sina

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (anglicization of Sìne/Síne); also used independently as a Persian boy’s name honoring Ibn Sina
Pronunciation: SEE-nah · ˈsiːnə
Meaning: honors the philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
Popularity: #7,175 and rising (#8,875 → #7,175, 2024)

Aref

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-REF · ɑːˈrɛf
Meaning: knowledgeable, wise, or mystic
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Aref Qazvini was a constitutional-era poet and singer.

Behnam

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-NAHM · behˈnɒːm
Meaning: having a good name, honorable
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in literary households.

Behrouz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-ROOZ · behˈruːz
Meaning: prosperous, fortunate day
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name with poetic optimism baked in.

Daryoush

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: dahr-YOOSH · dɑːrˈjuːʃ
Meaning: holding firm the good
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Daryoush Eghbali is a legendary Iranian singer.

Hooshang

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hoo-SHAHNG · huːˈʃæŋ
Meaning: Good choice or good discernment
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hooshang Ebtehaj is one of contemporary Iran’s most loved poets.

Houshmand

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Wise or intelligent
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pure and contemplative.

Modern, Short, and Easy-to-Pronounce Names

If you live outside Iran and want a Persian name that won’t require constant spelling, these are the easy wins — short, melodic, and recognizable.

One syllable in English, two in Persian; works everywhere.

Arman

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ar-MAHN · ɑːrˈmɑːn
Meaning: a wish, hope
Popularity: #1,293 and rising (#1,496 → #1,293, 2024)

One of the most popular names in modern Iran.

Aria

Origin: Italian (modern English coinage from the musical term)
Pronunciation: AR-ee-ah · ˈɑːriə
Meaning: song, melody
Popularity: #4,703 and falling (#4,462 → #4,703, 2024)

Same spelling as the Italian musical term; gentle and rising.

Arya

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: AR-yuh · ˈɑːrjə
Meaning: noble, worthy
Popularity: #2,388 and rising (#2,415 → #2,388, 2024)

Darian

Origin: modern coinage (20th century, possibly blending Darius and Dorian)
Pronunciation: DAIR-ee-un · ˈdɛriən
Meaning: Upholding the good
Popularity: #901 and rising (#1,048 → #901, 2024)

Sounds contemporary, carries ancient weight.

Rian

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: REE-uhn · ˈriːən
Meaning: Little king
Popularity: #1,262 and falling (#1,189 → #1,262, 2024)

Sam

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SAM · ˈsæm
Meaning: legendary Persian hero (Sām, grandfather of Rostam)
Popularity: #651 and rising (#675 → #651, 2024)

The grandfather of Rostam — much older in Persian than the English Samuel diminutive.

Roham

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: roh-HAHM · roʊˈhɑːm
Meaning: majestic wine or pelican
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Punchy and easy.

Soheil

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: soh-HAYL · soʊˈheɪl
Meaning: Canopus, the second-brightest star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Two clean syllables.

Rayan

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RY-an · ˈraɪən
Meaning: well-watered, lush
Popularity: #579 and falling (#561 → #579, 2024)

Soaring in Europe and the US.

Aren

Origin: Scandinavian (Old Norse)
Pronunciation: AH-ren · ˈɑːrən
Meaning: eagle
Popularity: #1,889 and rising (#2,220 → #1,889, 2024)

Soft and uncommon.

Ayden

Origin: Irish (American spelling variant of Aidan)
Pronunciation: AY-dun · ˈeɪdən
Meaning: little fire (as a variant of Aidan/Aodhan)
Popularity: #212 and falling (#190 → #212, 2024)

Often spelled Aydin in Iran; common in trans-cultural families.

Bardia

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: bar-DEE-ah · bɑːrˈdiː.ɒː
Meaning: lofty, high, or exalted
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The given name of the Persian prince who briefly succeeded Cambyses.

Bahar

Origin: Persian (root of the Turkish word)
Pronunciation: bah-HAHR · bɑːˈhɑːr
Meaning: spring, springtime
Popularity: #4,118 and rising (#5,778 → #4,118, 2024)

Used for both boys and girls; cheerful and brief.

Three crisp syllables.

– **Cyan** — Sky-blue (English) — sometimes used as a modern stylized spelling of Persian roots.

Dara

Origin: Irish, Persian, or Slavic (three unrelated origins)
Pronunciation: DAIR-ah · ˈdɛrə
Meaning: Wealthy, possessor
Popularity: #3,525 and rising (#3,807 → #3,525, 2024)

The Persian original of Darius’s family name.

Iliya

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ee-LEE-yuh · iːˈliːjə
Meaning: My God is Yahweh
Popularity: #9,305 and rising (#13,069 → #9,305, 2024)

Has taken off in Iran in the last decade.

Mani

Origin: Persian / Aramaic
Pronunciation: MAH-nee · ˈmɑːni
Meaning: name of the 3rd-century prophet Mani (founder of Manichaeism)
Popularity: #9,436 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The 3rd-century prophet who founded Manichaeism.

Navid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nah-VEED · nɑːˈviːd
Meaning: good news, glad tidings
Popularity: #7,100 and rising (#7,598 → #7,100, 2024)

Optimistic without being saccharine.

Omid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: oh-MEED · oʊˈmiːd
Meaning: generally understood as the Persian word for “hope”
Popularity: #8,764 and falling (#6,425 → #8,764, 2024)

Plain, beautiful, and a touch existential.

Pasha

Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: PAH-shuh · ˈpɑːʃə
Meaning: honorific title of high rank
Popularity: #8,771 and falling (#8,101 → #8,771, 2024)

Carries a regal-but-cute energy.

Reza

Origin: Persian (from Arabic)
Pronunciation: reh-ZAH · rɛˈzɑː
Meaning: contentment, satisfaction
Popularity: #3,138 and falling (#2,791 → #3,138, 2024)

One of the most common names in Iran for a reason — it ages well at every stage of life.

Names From Nature, Animals, and the Garden

Persians have always taken gardens seriously — the word “paradise” comes from Old Persian pairidaeza, an enclosed garden. These names draw from the natural world Iranians have cultivated for millennia.

Sarv

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SARV · sɑːrv
Meaning: cypress tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Baran

Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: bah-RAHN · bɑːˈrɑːn
Meaning: rain
Popularity: #7,284 and rising (#9,679 → #7,284, 2024)

Gentle and increasingly popular.

Tofan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: too-FAHN · tuːˈfɒːn
Meaning: storm or tempest
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold and rare.

Borzou

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bor-ZOO · bɔːrˈzuː
Meaning: tall, exalted stature
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has an oak-tree quality.

Shir

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SHEER · ʃiːr
Meaning: lion
Popularity: #17,273 and falling (#13,898 → #17,273, 2024)

Often combined into longer names like Shirzad.

Shirzad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sheer-ZAHD · ʃiːrˈzɑːd
Meaning: born of a lion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong and grounded.

Shahbaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-BAHZ · ʃɑːhˈbɑːz
Meaning: royal falcon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Classic hunting-bird imagery.

Homayoun

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hoh-mah-YOON · hoˌmɒːˈjuːn
Meaning: Auspicious, blessed, or royal
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Named after the mythical Homa bird whose shadow confers kingship.

Simorgh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: see-MORG · siːˈmɔːrɡ
Meaning: mythical giant bird
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The benevolent winged creature who raised Zal; rare but striking as a name.

Toranj

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: toh-RANJ · toˈrændʒ
Meaning: citron or bergamot orange
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Fragrant and uncommon.

Behnoosh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-NOOSH · behˈnuːʃ
Meaning: sweet or delightful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for both boys and girls.

Behdad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: beh-DAHD · behˈdɒːd
Meaning: good gift or well-given
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pure-sounding.

Bahador

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bah-hah-DOR · bæ.hɒːˈdoːr
Meaning: brave warrior or hero
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The honorary title of warriors across the Persianate world.

Banafsheh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bah-nahf-SHEH · bæ.næfˈʃe
Meaning: violet (the flower)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

More often a girl’s name but used for boys in some regions.

Bostan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: boh-STAHN · boʊˈstɑːn
Meaning: orchard, flower garden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The title of Saadi’s masterpiece.

Golshan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: gohl-SHAHN · ɡolˈʃɑːn
Meaning: rose garden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lush and poetic.

Sahand

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sah-HAHND · sæˈhænd
Meaning: firm or enduring
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sahar

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Pronunciation: sah-HAR · sɑːˈhɑːr
Meaning: dawn, daybreak
Popularity: #12,047 and rising (#12,200 → #12,047, 2024)

Soft and luminous.

Tirdad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: teer-DAHD · tiːrˈdɑːd
Meaning: given by Tir
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Astrological and rare.

Tirzad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: teer-ZAHD · tiːrˈzɑːd
Meaning: Born of Tir
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Linked to the rain-bringing yazata.

Names With Strength, Courage, and Honor

If you want a name with backbone, Persian delivers — these meanings cluster around bravery, leadership, and the dignified strength of the warrior-poet ideal.

Reliably strong without sounding aggressive.

Delavar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: deh-lah-VAR · dɛlɒːˈvɒːr
Meaning: brave, courageous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Literally “owner of a heart.”

Salar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: suh-LAR · səˈlɑːr
Meaning: leader or commander
Popularity: #3,866 and rising (#6,821 → #3,866, 2024)

Has gravitas; used widely in Iran and Afghanistan.

Sardar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sar-DAHR · sɑːrˈdɑːr
Meaning: commander or chief
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries the title of military leadership.

Sarbaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sar-BAHZ · særˈbɑːz
Meaning: soldier; one willing to sacrifice his life
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Plainspoken and proud.

Pahlevan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: pah-leh-VAHN · pæhleˈvɑːn
Meaning: champion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Persian wrestling tradition still uses this title.

Yalda

Origin: Persian (from Syriac)
Pronunciation: yahl-DAH · jælˈdɒː
Meaning: the longest night of the year, the winter solstice
Popularity: #10,204 and falling (#8,454 → #10,204, 2024)

Yazdan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: yaz-DAHN · jæzˈdɒːn
Meaning: divine beings
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Reverent and ancient.

Yashar

Origin: Turkic
Pronunciation: yah-SHAHR · jaˈʃaɾ
Meaning: living
Popularity: #14,247 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in Iranian Azeri families.

Mardan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mar-DAHN · mɑːrˈdɑːn
Meaning: men or warriors
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Direct and unfussy.

Mardin

Origin: Syriac
Pronunciation: mar-DEEN · mɑːrˈdiːn
Meaning: fortresses
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A simpler variant.

Mazdak

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: MAZ-dak · ˈmæzdæk
Meaning: Of Mazda, wise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The 5th-century social reformer.

Mehyar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-YAHR · mɛhˈjɑːr
Meaning: friend of the moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft strength.

Niloofar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nee-loo-FAR · niːluːˈfɒːr
Meaning: water lily
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for both boys and girls.

Pejman

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: PEZH-mahn · peʒˈmɒːn
Meaning: sorrowful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Carries depth.

Pirooz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: pee-ROOZ · piːˈruːz
Meaning: victorious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the great triumphant names.

Pouya

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: POO-yah · puːˈjɒː
Meaning: dynamic
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern and active.

Pouyan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: poo-YAHN · puːˈjɒːn
Meaning: searching
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The fuller form.

Rahman

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-MAHN · rɑːhˈmɑːn
Meaning: merciful
Popularity: #4,988 and falling (#4,187 → #4,988, 2024)

Quietly powerful.

Rahim

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-HEEM · rɑːˈhiːm
Meaning: compassionate, kind-hearted
Popularity: #2,979 and falling (#2,721 → #2,979, 2024)

Pairs well with siblings of any tradition.

Ramin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: rah-MEEN · rɑːˈmiːn
Meaning: associated with Ram, the Zoroastrian spirit of joy
Popularity: #11,976 and rising (#13,690 → #11,976, 2024)

Hero of the romantic epic Vis and Ramin.

Sasan

Origin: Middle Persian (name of the founder of the Sasanian dynasty)
Pronunciation: sah-SAHN · sɑːˈsɑːn
Meaning: Mysterious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The eponymous ancestor of the Sasanian dynasty.

Yousef

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: YOO-sef · ˈjuːsɛf
Meaning: Arabic spelling variant of Yusuf/Joseph, from Hebrew ‘he adds’ — traditionally ‘God will increase’
Popularity: #766 and rising (#825 → #766, 2024)

The Persian rendering of Joseph; deeply traditional.

Zaman

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zah-MAHN · zæˈmæːn
Meaning: time or era
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philosophical and weighty.

Zand

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ZAND · zænd
Meaning: Commentary, interpretation
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tied to the Zoroastrian commentaries on the Avesta and to the Zand dynasty.

Names With Spiritual and Zoroastrian Roots

Before Islam, Iran was Zoroastrian for over a thousand years, and the Avestan vocabulary still surfaces in Persian names. These names connect to a religion of light, truth, and good thought.

Ahura

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: uh-HOO-ruh · əˈhʊərə
Meaning: lord
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The supreme being in Zoroastrianism.

Mazda

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: MAHZ-duh · ˈmɑːzdə
Meaning: wisdom
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The second half of Ahura Mazda.

Zarathustra

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: zah-ruh-THOO-struh · ˌzærəˈθuːstrə
Meaning: he who manages camels
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The prophet himself; long, ceremonial.

Zartosht

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: zar-TOSHT · zɑːrˈtɒʃt
Meaning: he who manages camels
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used by Iranian Zoroastrian families.

Mehr

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: MEHR · mɛər
Meaning: sun; love, affection
Popularity: #6,818 and rising (#6,830 → #6,818, 2024)

The deity of covenants and light.

Vohuman

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: voh-hoo-MAHN · voʊhuːˈmɑːn
Meaning: good mind
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the six Amesha Spentas.

Asha

Origin: Persian / Avestan
Pronunciation: AH-shah · ˈɑːʃə
Meaning: truth, righteousness, cosmic order
Popularity: #1,196 and rising (#1,338 → #1,196, 2024)

A core Zoroastrian virtue.

Khshathra

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: kshah-THRAH · xʃaθra
Meaning: dominion or power
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and ancient.

Spenta

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: SPEN-tuh · ˈspɛntə
Meaning: holy, bounteous/beneficent
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hushidar

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: hoo-shee-DAR · huːʃiːˈdɑːr
Meaning: He who nurtures righteousness
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A messianic figure in Zoroastrian tradition.

Sorush

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: soh-ROOSH · soʊˈruːʃ
Meaning: obedience and observance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also spelled Soroush; the divine messenger.

Mithra

Origin: Avestan/Old Iranian
Pronunciation: MITH-ruh · ˈmɪθrə
Meaning: contract, covenant (personified as a divine guarantor of oaths)
Popularity: #8,246 and falling (#7,524 → #8,246, 2024)

The deity who traveled west into Roman religion as Mithras.

Rashn

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: RAHSHN · ræʃn
Meaning: justice or truth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The judge of souls.

Tishtrya

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: TISH-tree-uh · ˈtɪʃtriə
Meaning: the star Sirius
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Survives in modern Tir.

Verethragna

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: veh-reth-RAHG-nah · vɛrɛθˈrɑːɡnə
Meaning: smiter of resistance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ataš

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-TASH · ɒːˈtæʃ
Meaning: fire
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The sacred element of Zoroastrian worship.

Azar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-ZAR · ɑːˈzɑːr
Meaning: fire; also the name of the ninth month of the Persian solar calendar
Popularity: #4,318 and rising (#5,087 → #4,318, 2024)

A month in the Iranian calendar and the name of a fire-temple deity.

Bizhan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bee-ZHAHN · biːˈʒɑːn
Meaning: hero
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Shahnameh figure with Avestan roots.

Farvardin

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: far-var-DEEN · fɑːrvɑːrˈdiːn
Meaning: of the guardian spirits
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The first month of the Iranian year.

Khordad

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: khor-DAHD · xorˈdɒːd
Meaning: wholeness or perfection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Another month name and Amesha Spenta.

Mordad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mor-DAHD · mɔːrˈdɑːd
Meaning: immortality
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A summer month name.

Ordibehesht

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: or-dee-be-HESHT · oɾdiːbeˈheʃt
Meaning: best truth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The second Iranian month.

Shahrivar

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: shah-ree-VAHR · ʃæhriːˈvær
Meaning: desirable dominion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The sixth month.

Tir

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: TEER · tiːr
Meaning: fourth solar month or planet Mercury
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A month and a deity.

Aban

Origin: Persian/Avestan
Meaning: associated with ‘waters’; also the eighth month of the Persian calendar
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings