200+ Persian Baby Girl Names That Are Poetic and Rare

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Persian names draw on one of the oldest poetic traditions in the world, and it shows — plenty of these names started out as everyday words for flowers, light, or stars before anyone used them as a name. That means many of them carry real meaning behind the sound, not just a pretty ring. Below you’ll find more than 175 to look through, leaning rare and lyrical rather than trendy.

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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 the Shahnameh and Classical Persian Epics

Names From Persian Poetry — Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, Khayyam

Zoroastrian and Ancient Iranian Names

Nature-Inspired Persian Names — Light, Earth, Water

Modern Iranian Names — Tehran in the 2000s

Royal and Aristocratic Names — Queens, Princesses, Pahlavi Era

Sufi and Spiritually-Inflected Names

Sound-Forward Persian Names — Short, Punchy, Travel-Friendly

Most of these names are still rare in English-speaking countries, which is part of the appeal. Your daughter won’t share hers with three other girls in her kindergarten class. But because Persian phonetics map cleanly onto English mouths (no tricky consonant clusters, no tonal pitfalls), people will say it correctly the first time. That’s an unusual combination — distinctive and easy.

I’ve organized this list by where the names come from rather than alphabetically, because the source matters. A name pulled from the Shahnameh has a different texture than one rooted in Zoroastrian fire-worship, which has a different texture than a modern Tehran nickname. You’ll feel the difference as you read.

A note on spelling: Persian is written in a modified Arabic script, so Romanizations vary. Sahar and Sehar, Yasamin and Yasmin — these are the same name, just transliterated differently. I’ve used the most common English spellings throughout.

Names From the Shahnameh and Classical Persian Epics

Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (Book of Kings) was completed around 1010 CE and is the longest epic poem ever written by a single author. The women in it — queens, warriors, sorceresses, devoted daughters — gave Iran some of its most enduring names.

Roxana

Origin: Persian (Old Persian, via Greek Rhōxanē)
Pronunciation: rahk-SAN-ah · rɑːkˈsænə
Meaning: bright, radiant
Popularity: #2,091 and rising (#2,173 → #2,091, 2024)

The name of Alexander the Great’s Bactrian wife, *Roshanak* in the original; sun-kissed and storied.

Soraya

Origin: Persian (from Arabic)
Pronunciation: soh-RY-ah · soʊˈraɪə
Meaning: the Pleiades star cluster; also glossed as ‘brilliant gem’
Popularity: #913 and rising (#1,150 → #913, 2024)

Wife of the last Shah of Iran; soft and celestial.

Tahmineh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-mee-NEH · tɑːhmiːˈneɪ
Meaning: brave, strong-hearted
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The princess who fell in love with the hero Rostam in a single night; carries quiet strength.

Manijeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-nee-ZHAY · mɒːniːˈʒe
Meaning: Daughter of the moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Turanian princess who defied her father for love; romantic and a little defiant.

Rudabeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: roo-DAH-beh · ruːˈdɑːbɛ
Meaning: child of the river
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rostam’s mother; let her hair down a tower like a Persian Rapunzel.

Gordafarid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: gor-dah-fah-REED · ɡor.dɑː.fæˈriːd
Meaning: Born a hero
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Shahnameh’s great female warrior who duelled the prince of Turan; fierce, underused.

Farangis

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-rahn-GEES · færænˈɡiːs
Meaning: Name of a legendary princess in the Shahnameh
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Daughter of the Turanian king Afrasiab; lyrical and grand.

Sudabeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: soo-DAH-beh · suːˈdɑːbeɪ
Meaning: connected to the word for profit or benefit
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The complicated queen of the Kayanian dynasty; vintage and dramatic.

Katayoun

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: kah-tah-YOON · kɑːtɑːˈjuːn
Meaning: Royal, queenly
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mother of the hero Esfandiar; regal without being ornate.

Homa

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hoh-MAH · hoʊˈmɑː
Meaning: A mythical phoenix-like bird
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Huma bird grants kingship to whoever its shadow touches; auspicious.

Banou

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: bah-NOO · bɒːˈnuː
Meaning: lady, noblewoman
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A title and a name; warm and slightly formal.

Shirin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shee-REEN · ʃiːˈriːn
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: #8,854 and rising (#10,198 → #8,854, 2024)

Vis

Origin: Persian (Old Iranian)
Pronunciation: VEES · viːs
Meaning: Beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Heroine of the 11th-century romance *Vis and Ramin*; rare even in Iran.

Azadeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-zah-DAY · ˌɑːzɑːˈdeɪ
Meaning: free, freeborn
Popularity: #15,520 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The harpist in the legend of Bahram Gur; melodic.

Pari

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: pah-REE · pɑːˈriː
Meaning: fairy, angel
Popularity: #6,835 and rising (#9,451 → #6,835, 2024)

The original word behind English “peri”; tiny and luminous.

Mahin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-HEEN · mɑːˈhiːn
Meaning: greatest, or moon-like
Popularity: #13,432 and falling (#13,428 → #13,432, 2024)

A 20th-century literary favorite.

Parisa

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: pah-REE-suh · pɑːˈriːsə
Meaning: fairy-like
Popularity: #5,096 and rising (#6,339 → #5,096, 2024)

A diminutive of Pari that feels playful and modern.

Anahita

Origin: Old Persian/Zoroastrian
Pronunciation: ah-nah-HEE-tah · ˌɑːnɑːˈhiːtɑː
Meaning: goddess of the waters, also linked to fertility, healing, and wisdom
Popularity: #7,973 and falling (#7,264 → #7,973, 2024)

The ancient water goddess; predates Islam by centuries.

Atusa

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: ah-TOO-sah · ɑːˈtuːsə
Meaning: well-grown or well-formed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius; the queen behind the Persian empire.

Artemisia

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: ar-tuh-MEE-zee-uh · ˌɑːrtɪˈmiːziə
Meaning: of Artemis
Popularity: #11,179 and falling (#5,772 → #11,179, 2024)

The naval commander who fought for Xerxes at Salamis; ancient and ferocious.

Faranak

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-rah-NAHK · fɑːrəˈnɑːk
Meaning: Name of a legendary queen in the Shahnameh, mother of the hero Fereydun
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hid her son to save him from the tyrant Zahhak; protective and brave.

Sindokht

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seen-DOKHT · siːnˈdɒxt
Meaning: daughter of Sind, referring to the Indus region
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rudabeh’s mother; diplomatic and shrewd in the epic.

Shahrzad

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shahr-ZAHD · ʃɑːrˈzɑːd
Meaning: born of the city, or by another proposed reading, of noble lineage
Popularity: #17,487 as of 2001 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The storyteller of *One Thousand and One Nights*; the original woman who saved her life with words.

Goudarz

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

Uncommon as a girl’s name but used; feels heroic.

Mehrdokht

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: MEHR-dokht · ˈmɛhrdɒxt
Meaning: daughter of the sun, or of love/kindness
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-fashioned in the best way.

Names From Persian Poetry — Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, Khayyam

The classical poets reached for natural imagery constantly — gardens, wine, nightingales, moonlight — and many of those images became names. These tend to feel especially lyrical when said aloud.

Banafsheh

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

A staple in Hafez’s verses; humble and sweet.

Susan

Origin: Hebrew (ultimately from Egyptian)
Pronunciation: SOO-zən · ˈsuːzən
Meaning: lily flower, via a Hebrew name traced back to an Egyptian word for lotus
Popularity: #1,136 and falling (#1,104 → #1,136, 2024)

The original Susan is Persian, not biblical; predates the English version by millennia.

Yasamin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: yah-sah-MEEN · jɒːsæˈmiːn
Meaning: jasmine flower
Popularity: #15,007 as of 2020 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Beloved in Persian gardens and ghazals; soft and recognizable.

Nasrin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nahs-REEN · nɑːsˈriːn
Meaning: wild rose
Popularity: #13,056 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The flower that climbs old Tehran walls; gentle.

Narges

Origin: Persian (from Arabic, ultimately Greek)
Pronunciation: nar-GESS · nɑːrˈɡɛs
Meaning: narcissus flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A classical symbol for the beloved’s eyes in Sufi poetry.

Laleh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: lah-LEH · lɑːˈlɛ
Meaning: tulip
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Iranian national flower; bright and short.

Golnaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: gohl-NAHZ · ɡolˈnɑːz
Meaning: A flower’s tenderness, delicate as a blossom
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Slightly old-fashioned, very feminine.

Golnar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: gohl-NAR · ɡolˈnɑːr
Meaning: Blossom of the pomegranate tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Goli

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: goh-LEE · ɡoʊˈliː
Meaning: A little flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A diminutive that works as a full name.

Gulrukh

Origin: Persian/Urdu
Pronunciation: gool-ROOKH · ɡʊlˈrʊx
Meaning: Having a rosy, flower-like face
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A poetic compliment turned into a name.

Mahsa

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: MAH-sah · ˈmɑːsɑː
Meaning: resembling the moon
Popularity: #3,466 and rising (#4,159 → #3,466, 2024)

One of the most popular contemporary names in Iran.

Mahtab

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-TAHB · mæhˈtɒːb
Meaning: moonlight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pure visual poetry; works in any culture.

Shabnam

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SHAHB-nahm · ˈʃɑːbnɑːm
Meaning: dew (literally ‘night-moisture’)
Popularity: #13,250 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The little drops on morning grass; delicate.

Setareh

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

Beloved across the Iranian diaspora; warm and direct.

Sahar

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Pronunciation: sah-HAR · sɑːˈhɑːr
Meaning: dawn, daybreak
Popularity: #3,363 and rising (#3,463 → #3,363, 2024)

The hour just before sunrise when Sufis pray.

Sepideh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seh-pee-DEH · sɛpiːˈdɛ
Meaning: dawn, daybreak
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sepehr

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

Used for both genders; vast.

Negar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: neh-GAHR · nɛˈɡɒːr
Meaning: sweetheart
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Niloufar

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

Floats above the murky pond; symbolic.

Maryam

Origin: Arabic/Persian (form of Mary/Miriam)
Pronunciation: MAR-yum · ˈmɑːrjəm
Meaning: Tuberose; also Mary
Popularity: #390 and rising (#415 → #390, 2024)

The Persian flower meaning gives it new life.

Yara

Origin: two unrelated origins: Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) and Arabic
Pronunciation: YAR-ah · ˈjɑːrə
Meaning: In Tupi, ‘lady of the water’ — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore.
Popularity: #578 and rising (#613 → #578, 2024)

Short and tough.

Negin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: neh-GEEN · nɛˈɡiːn
Meaning: gemstone
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The centerpiece of a ring; precious.

Marjan

Origin: Persian/Arabic
Pronunciation: mar-JAHN · mɑːrˈdʒɑːn
Meaning: coral
Popularity: #10,754 and falling (#9,382 → #10,754, 2024)

The red coral of the Persian Gulf; rare in English.

Mina

Origin: multiple (Sanskrit, Persian, or Germanic short form)
Pronunciation: MEE-nah · ˈmiːnə
Meaning: varies by origin: ‘fish’ (Sanskrit/Hindi मीना), ‘blue enamel/glass’ or a flower name (Persian مینا), or a short form of Wilhelmina (‘resolute protector’, Germanic)
Popularity: #608 and falling (#586 → #608, 2024)

Compact and pretty.

Nahid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nah-HEED · nɑːˈhiːd
Meaning: Venus (the planet)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The morning star; also the Persian name for Anahita.

Parvaneh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: par-vah-NEH · pærvɑːˈne
Meaning: butterfly
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

In Sufi poetry, the moth that flies into the flame of the beloved.

Avizeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-vee-ZEH · ˌɑːviːˈzɛ
Meaning: a hanging ornament, pendant, or earring
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Decorative and uncommon.

Roya

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ROH-yah · ˈroʊjə
Meaning: dream, vision
Popularity: #2,808 and falling (#2,458 → #2,808, 2024)

Arezou

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-reh-ZOO · ɒːreˈzuː
Meaning: wish or longing
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mahnaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-NAHZ · mɑːhˈnɑːz
Meaning: Pride of the moon, beloved as the moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has a swing to it.

Zoroastrian and Ancient Iranian Names

Before Islam reached Iran in the 7th century, Zoroastrianism was the state religion for over a thousand years. These names — many drawn from the Avesta — carry the oldest layer of Persian identity.

The goddess of water, fertility, and wisdom; her name appears in inscriptions from 400 BCE.

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)

Used for girls in modern Iran; ancient and luminous.

Asha

Origin: Avestan (Old Persian)
Pronunciation: AH-shah · ˈɑːʃə
Meaning: truth, order, righteousness — the central Zoroastrian concept
Popularity: #1,196 and rising (#1,338 → #1,196, 2024)

The central Zoroastrian virtue; one syllable, huge weight.

Daena

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: DAY-nuh · ˈdeɪnə
Meaning: inner conscience and religious insight
Popularity: #13,818 and falling (#9,761 → #13,818, 2024)

Philosophical and rare.

Spenta

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

The “good spirit” of Zoroastrian theology.

Armaiti

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: ar-MY-tee · ɑːrˈmaɪti
Meaning: devotion and right-minded piety
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the Amesha Spenta divine beings; serene.

Hauvi

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: HOW-vee · ˈhaʊviː
Meaning: Name of one of Zoroaster’s wives in Zoroastrian tradition
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A founding figure; tiny syllabic shape.

Pouruchista

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: poh-roo-CHEES-tah · poʊruːˈtʃiːstə
Meaning: very wise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zoroaster’s youngest daughter; a mouthful but stunning.

Farah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAIR-ah · ˈfɛrə
Meaning: joy; happiness
Popularity: #1,363 and falling (#1,310 → #1,363, 2024)

Empress Farah Pahlavi made it iconic.

Mehr

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

One of the most beloved root-words in Iranian naming.

Mehrnoosh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mehr-NOOSH · mɛhrˈnuːʃ
Meaning: nectar of love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The kind of name people remember.

Mehrangiz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-rahn-GEEZ · mɛhrænˈɡiːz
Meaning: stirring love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vintage Tehran of the 1940s.

Khorshid

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: khor-SHEED · xorˈʃiːd
Meaning: sun
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Direct and warm.

Tirgan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: teer-GAHN · tiːrˈɡɑːn
Meaning: tied to the midsummer festival honoring the star Tir, marked by water play
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The midsummer Zoroastrian festival.

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)

Celebrated with pomegranates and poetry; a beautiful birthday-name for December babies.

Spandarmaz

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: spahn-dar-MAHZ · spændɑːrˈmɑːz
Meaning: holy devotion, also linked to the earth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The fifth month in the Zoroastrian calendar.

Vohu

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: VOH-hoo · ˈvoʊhuː
Meaning: good, holy
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name and a prefix; short and pure.

Ashvini

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: ash-VEE-nee · ʌʃˈviːni
Meaning: of the horse; linked to the twin dawn-gods of Vedic myth
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Reaches into the Indo-Iranian past.

Hutosa

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: hoo-TOH-suh · huːˈtoʊsə
Meaning: Name of a queen in Zoroastrian tradition, later known as Atossa
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Variant of Atusa.

Aramaiti

Origin: Avestan (Old Iranian)
Pronunciation: ah-rah-MY-tee · ˌɑːrəˈmaɪti
Meaning: holy devotion paired with sound judgment
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ardvi

Origin: Avestan (mythological)
Pronunciation: ARD-vee · ˈɑːrdvi
Meaning: uncertain root, possibly ‘moist’; a name for the mythic Zoroastrian water goddess
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Avestan name of Anahita.

Aredvi

Origin: Avestan (mythological)
Pronunciation: uh-RED-vee · əˈrɛdvi
Meaning: uncertain root, possibly ‘moist’; part of the name of the mythic water goddess Aredvi Sura Anahita
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Variant spelling, older.

Frashna

Origin: Avestan
Pronunciation: FRASH-nah · ˈfræʃnə
Meaning: Question, inquiry
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and intellectual.

Behesht

Origin: Persian, from Avestan
Pronunciation: beh-HESHT · behˈheʃt
Meaning: heaven, paradise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The good place.

Nature-Inspired Persian Names — Light, Earth, Water

Iranians have always loved the natural world precisely — they have separate words for morning twilight, dew at dawn, moonlight on water. These names carry that precision.

Aban

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

Autumnal and elemental.

Atash

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

Bold and elemental; less common for girls but used.

Baran

Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: bah-RAHN · bɑːˈrɑːn
Meaning: rain
Popularity: #12,323 and rising (#13,697 → #12,323, 2024)

Boran

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: boh-RAHN · boʊˈrɑːn
Meaning: Storm, rainfall
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Heavier sister to Baran.

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)

One of the most popular names in modern Iran.

Tabaan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-BAHN · tɑːˈbɑːn
Meaning: shining, radiant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Has movement in it.

Taban

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-BAHN · tɑːˈbɑːn
Meaning: glowing, radiant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Same root as Tabaan, simpler spelling.

Roshana

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: roh-SHAH-nuh · roʊˈʃɑːnə
Meaning: bright, radiant
Popularity: #12,852 as of 2000 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The classical form of Roxana.

Rana

Origin: disputed / multiple unrelated origins (see note)
Pronunciation: RAH-nuh · ˈrɑːnə
Meaning: one who gazes admiringly (a captivating, beautiful sight)
Popularity: #3,729 and falling (#3,367 → #3,729, 2024)

Crossover with Arabic but distinctly Persian.

Donya

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: DOHN-yah · ˈdoʊnjə
Meaning: The world
Popularity: #11,328 and falling (#8,167 → #11,328, 2024)

Vast in meaning, gentle in sound.

Darya

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: DAR-yah · ˈdɑːrjə
Meaning: sea
Popularity: #3,280 and rising (#3,603 → #3,280, 2024)

The same word as the river Daryā in Iranian geography.

Daryan

Origin: Persian (modern coinage)
Pronunciation: dar-YAHN · dɑːrˈjɑːn
Meaning: Sea-like, of the sea
Popularity: #4,723 and rising (#5,993 → #4,723, 2024)

Coastal and rare.

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

Unisex; spiritual.

Simin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: see-MEEN · siːˈmiːn
Meaning: silvery, made of silver
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The poet Simin Behbahani gave it gravitas.

Zarrin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: zah-REEN · zæˈriːn
Meaning: golden, made of gold
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sister to Simin; warmer.

Talayeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: tah-lah-YEH · tɑːlɑːˈjeɪ
Meaning: golden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft variant.

Firouzeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fee-roo-ZEH · fiːruːˈze
Meaning: Turquoise, the gemstone
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The blue-green stone mined in Neyshabur for 2,000 years.

Firouz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fee-ROOZ · feˈruːz
Meaning: Victorious, triumphant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Compact masculine-feeling name used for girls too.

Mahsima

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-SEE-mah · mɑːhsiːˈmɑː
Meaning: moon-faced
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Combines *Mah* and *sim*; recent invention but lovely.

Mahnoor

Origin: Persian/Arabic compound
Pronunciation: mah-NOOR · mɑːhˈnʊər
Meaning: moonlight
Popularity: #3,540 and falling (#3,121 → #3,540, 2024)

Crosses cultures easily.

Nourasa

Origin: Persian (modern coinage)
Pronunciation: noo-RAH-sah · nuːˈrɑːsə
Meaning: Modern light
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Newer compound; gentle.

Pouneh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: poo-NEH · puːˈneh
Meaning: pennyroyal (a fragrant mint)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The herb that grows wild near streams.

Sanam

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: suh-NAHM · səˈnɑːm
Meaning: idol; used poetically for a beloved
Popularity: #17,181 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The beloved in classical poetry; warm.

Sahba

Origin: Persian/Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-bah · ˈsɑːhbɑː
Meaning: wine
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Poetic in a Hafezian way.

Sorena

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: so-REH-nah · soʊˈrɛnə
Meaning: Bright, shining
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern revival of a Parthian-era name.

Sima

Origin: Persian; also used as a Hebrew/Aramaic and Hindi name
Pronunciation: SEE-mah · ˈsiːmɑː
Meaning: face, or by extension a beautiful face; in Hebrew and Aramaic use it can also mean treasure or precious
Popularity: #2,452 and rising (#3,169 → #2,452, 2024)

Used for both name and word.

Shadan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-DAHN · ʃɑːˈdɑːn
Meaning: joyful, happy
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Optimistic.

Shoukoufeh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shoh-koo-FEH · ʃoʊkuːˈfɛ
Meaning: blossom, flower bud
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The flower before it opens; tender.

Tarlan

Origin: Turkic, used among Persian speakers
Pronunciation: tar-LAHN · tɑːrˈlɑːn
Meaning: falcon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A favorite in northern Iran.

Tina

Origin: short form of Christina, Martina, and similar names, ultimately Greek/Latin
Pronunciation: TEE-nuh · ˈtiː.nə
Meaning: Clay, earth
Popularity: #2,683 and falling (#1,960 → #2,683, 2024)

Coincides with the English Tina but means something specific.

Modern Iranian Names — Tehran in the 2000s

These are the names you’d find on a Tehran kindergarten roster today. Many were popularized after the 1979 revolution as parents reached for Persian (rather than Arabic) roots.

Avina

Origin: Persian (modern coinage)
Pronunciation: ah-VEE-nuh · əˈviːnə
Meaning: Of the water
Popularity: #4,191 and falling (#3,708 → #4,191, 2024)

Modern revival, climbing in popularity.

Aida

Origin: Italian (popularized by Verdi’s 1871 opera Aida)
Pronunciation: eye-EE-duh · aɪˈiːdə
Meaning: Reward, gift; visitor
Popularity: #1,242 and falling (#1,232 → #1,242, 2024)

Modern Tehran favorite.

Aysan

Origin: Turkish/Persian
Pronunciation: eye-SAHN · aɪˈsɑːn
Meaning: resembling the moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used widely in northwest Iran.

Atiyeh

Origin: Arabic (Persian form)
Pronunciation: ah-tee-YEH · ɒːtiːˈje
Meaning: a gift, a present
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Confident and forward-looking.

Asal

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-SAHL · əˈsɑːl
Meaning: honey
Popularity: #5,157 and rising (#9,050 → #5,157, 2024)

Sweet without being saccharine.

Ava

Origin: disputed (Hebrew, Irish, or Germanic)
Pronunciation: AY-vah · ˈeɪvə
Meaning: most often treated as a variant of Eva/Hebrew Chava, meaning ‘life’; alternatively explained as an anglicized form of Irish Aoife or from an obscure Germanic root
Popularity: #9 and falling (#8 → #9, 2024)

That’s a folk association not supported by any source — Ava’s true origin is disputed, and it’s most often treated as a variant of Eva, meaning ‘life.’

Avishan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-vee-SHAHN · ˌɑːviːˈʃɑːn
Meaning: wild thyme, the herb
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Smells like a Persian hillside.

Azin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ah-ZEEN · ɒːˈziːn
Meaning: ornament, decoration
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and crisp.

Bita

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: BEE-tah · ˈbiːtɑː
Meaning: unique, matchless, one of a kind
Popularity: #16,138 as of 2003 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern, two syllables, easy.

Donna

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: DON-uh · ˈdɒnə
Meaning: lady
Popularity: #1,941 and rising (#1,986 → #1,941, 2024)

Coincides with the Italian, distinct etymology.

Elaheh

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: eh-lah-HEH · ɛlɒːˈhɛ
Meaning: A goddess
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Romantic and a little grand.

Elnaz

Origin: Persian-Turkish
Pronunciation: el-NAHZ · ɛlˈnɑːz
Meaning: Compassion for one’s people
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in Azerbaijani Iran.

Helia

Origin: Greek (modern coinage, apparently from Helios)
Pronunciation: HEE-lee-uh · ˈhiːliə
Meaning: Sun
Popularity: #6,461 and rising (#10,614 → #6,461, 2024)

Modern coinage but feels ancient.

Hasti

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: hahs-TEE · hɒsˈtiː
Meaning: Being, existence
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philosophical and short.

Kimia

Origin: Persian (ultimately Ancient Greek, via Arabic al-kimiya)
Pronunciation: kee-MEE-ah · kiːˈmiːə
Meaning: alchemy / elixir of life (modern sense: chemistry)
Popularity: #6,504 and rising (#7,464 → #6,504, 2024)

Lila

Origin: Arabic, Sanskrit
Pronunciation: LY-lah · ˈlaɪlə
Meaning: night (Arabic, via Layla) or play/charm (Sanskrit līlā), depending on origin
Popularity: #207 and rising (#213 → #207, 2024)

Variant of Leila.

Leila

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LAY-lah · ˈleɪlə
Meaning: night
Popularity: #268 and falling (#240 → #268, 2024)

The most universal Persian name in the West.

Mahdis

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-DEES · mæhˈdiːs
Meaning: moon-like
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern and lyrical.

Mahour

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mah-HOOR · mɑːˈhuːr
Meaning: a mode in traditional Persian music
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For music-loving parents.

Melika

Origin: Arabic (used in Persian)
Pronunciation: meh-LEE-kah · mɛˈliːkə
Meaning: queen
Popularity: #12,970 and rising (#13,003 → #12,970, 2024)

Common in Tehran since the 90s.

Mona

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic; also Arabic (as Muna)
Pronunciation: MOH-nah · ˈmoʊnə
Meaning: noble (Irish/Gaelic); or ‘wish/desire’ when used as a form of Arabic Muna
Popularity: #2,224 and falling (#2,116 → #2,224, 2024)

Short and contemporary.

Nika

Origin: Greek (via Slavic use); separately a Persian name
Pronunciation: NEE-kah · ˈniːkə
Meaning: victory (from Greek Nike)
Popularity: #3,149 and falling (#2,810 → #3,149, 2024)

Coincides with Greek Nike; means something else entirely.

Niki

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: NEE-kee · ˈniːki
Meaning: goodness, kindness
Popularity: #10,024 and falling (#6,846 → #10,024, 2024)

Diminutive form.

Nadia

Origin: Slavic/Arabic
Pronunciation: NAH-dee-ah · ˈnɑːdiə
Meaning: hope (Slavic, from Nadezhda); also ‘tender’ in Arabic usage
Popularity: #513 and falling (#489 → #513, 2024)

Niloo

Origin: Persian (short form)
Pronunciation: NEE-loo · niːˈluː
Meaning: water lily
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Casual and sweet.

Parmida

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: par-MEE-duh · pɑːrˈmiːdə
Meaning: Daughter of Cyrus the Great; modern usage
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historic.

Rira

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ree-RAH · riːˈrɑː
Meaning: A poet’s pen name
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

After Rira Abbasi; literary.

Sadaf

Origin: Arabic (Persian use)
Pronunciation: sah-DAHF · səˈdɑːf
Meaning: seashell, mother-of-pearl
Popularity: #4,987 and rising (#8,401 → #4,987, 2024)

The shell, not the pearl.

Sara

Origin: Hebrew (variant spelling of Sarah)
Pronunciation: SAIR-ah · ˈsɛrə
Meaning: princess; noblewoman
Popularity: #188, holding steady (2024)

The Persian usage emphasizes purity.

Sahel

Origin: Arabic (Persian use)
Pronunciation: sah-HEL · saːˈhɛl
Meaning: shore, coast
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a beach-loving family.

Saghi

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SAH-ghee · sɒːˈɣiː
Meaning: cupbearer
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A central figure in Hafez.

Shaghayegh

Origin: Persian
Meaning: the wild red poppy flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Difficult for English speakers to pronounce but worth it.

Shervin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sher-VEEN · ʃɛrˈviːn
Meaning: lion-hearted (widely claimed, not rigorously verified)
Popularity: #13,867 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for both genders.

Tara

Origin: Irish (place name); also Sanskrit (‘star’)
Pronunciation: TAIR-ah · ˈtɛrə
Meaning: named after the Hill of Tara, ancient seat of Irish kings (the place name’s own root meaning is disputed); a separate Sanskrit-origin sense means ‘star’
Popularity: #1,021 and rising (#1,163 → #1,021, 2024)

Royal and Aristocratic Names — Queens, Princesses, Pahlavi Era

Iran’s last royal dynasty (1925–1979) revived many ancient Persian names. These carry a faint air of palaces and old photographs.

Empress Farah Pahlavi, Iran’s last queen; serene and dignified.

The Shah’s second wife, whose tragic love story made world headlines.

Fawzia

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FOW-zee-uh
Meaning: Success and victory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Shah’s first wife, an Egyptian princess.

Shahnaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-NAHZ · ʃɑːhˈnɑːz
Meaning: pride, or delight, of the king
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Shah’s eldest daughter.

Farahnaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fah-rah-NAHZ · fɑːrɑːˈnɑːz
Meaning: Joy combined with pride
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Shah’s second daughter.

Ashraf

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ash-RAHF
Meaning: most noble, most honored
Popularity: #4,428 and rising (#5,261 → #4,428, 2024)

The Shah’s twin sister.

Tajossaltaneh

Origin: Persian-Arabic
Pronunciation: TAHJ-os-sahl-tah-NEH · ˌtɑːdʒɒssæltæˈneɪ
Meaning: crown of the realm
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Qajar princess turned feminist memoirist.

Forough

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: foh-ROOGH · foˈruːɣ
Meaning: Radiant light
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

After the poet Forough Farrokhzad; modernist and brilliant.

Pouran

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: poo-RAHN · puːˈrɑːn
Meaning: Successor, daughter
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

After Pouran Dokht, the Sassanian queen who ruled in her own name.

Azarmidokht

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: ah-zar-mee-DOHKHT · ɒːzærmiːˈdʊxt
Meaning: honored daughter, daughter of reverence
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A 7th-century Sassanian queen.

Atossa

Origin: Old Persian (via Greek)
Pronunciation: uh-TOSS-uh · əˈtɒsə
Meaning: well-grown or well-provided-for
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Daughter of Cyrus, wife of Darius, mother of Xerxes.

Mandana

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mahn-DAH-nah · mɑːnˈdɑːnə
Meaning: Daughter of the Median king Astyages, mother of Cyrus the Great
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Foundational.

Cassandane

Origin: Old Persian (via Greek)
Pronunciation: kass-an-DAY-nee · ˌkæsənˈdeɪni
Meaning: Wife of Cyrus the Great
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mentioned in Herodotus.

Statira

Origin: Old Persian, via Greek
Pronunciation: stuh-TYE-ruh · stəˈtaɪrə
Meaning: Wife of Artaxerxes II
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Court intrigue in the original.

Parysatis

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: puh-RISS-uh-tiss · pəˈrɪsətɪs
Meaning: Wife of Darius II
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Powerful and feared.

Mehrnegar

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mehr-neh-GAR · mɛhrnɛˈɡɑːr
Meaning: portrait of love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pahlavi-era favorite.

Pourandokht

Origin: Middle Persian
Pronunciation: poo-rahn-DOHKT · puːɾɒːnˈdoxt
Meaning: daughter of abundance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Sassanian queen regnant.

Touran

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: too-RAHN · tuːˈrɑːn
Meaning: of Turan, the legendary land beyond the Oxus River
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vintage and a little exotic.

Touraj

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: too-RAHJ
Meaning: Brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mostly masculine but used for girls in some families.

Vashti

Origin: Persian (biblical, via Hebrew)
Pronunciation: VASH-ty · ˈvæʃtaɪ
Meaning: beautiful
Popularity: #11,006 and falling (#7,609 → #11,006, 2024)

The queen who refused to dance for Xerxes in the Book of Esther; defiant.

Esther

Origin: Hebrew (Biblical), root disputed
Pronunciation: ES-ter · ˈɛstər
Meaning: star
Popularity: #131 and rising (#138 → #131, 2024)

The Jewish queen of Persia; biblical and Persian both.

Sufi and Spiritually-Inflected Names

Sufism, the mystical tradition within Islam, flourished in Persian-speaking lands. Many of its central concepts — devotion, longing, divine love — became names.

Eshgh

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: ESHGH · eʃɣ
Meaning: Love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mehraban

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-rah-BAHN · mɛhrɑːˈbɑːn
Meaning: kind, affectionate
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often used for boys; works for girls.

Mehrnaz

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: mehr-NAHZ · mɛhrˈnɑːz
Meaning: love and coquettish charm
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mehrnaz is often rendered as ‘sweetness of love,’ but ‘naz’ actually means coy, flirtatious charm or graceful pride rather than sweetness — so a closer sense is ‘love paired with charming coyness.’

Mehri

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-REE · mɛhˈriː
Meaning: love, kindness, or sunshine
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and warm.

Mahbubeh

Origin: Arabic (used in Persian)
Pronunciation: mah-boo-BEH · mæhbuːˈbe
Meaning: beloved
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mahboubeh

Origin: Arabic (used in Persian)
Pronunciation: mah-boo-BEH · mæhbuːˈbe
Meaning: beloved
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Variant spelling.

Roshanak

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: roh-shuh-NAHK · roʊʃæˈnæk
Meaning: little bright one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Diminutive of Roshana.

Nur

Origin: Turkish (ultimately from Arabic نور ‘light’)
Pronunciation: NOOR · ˈnʊr
Meaning: light
Popularity: #4,728 and falling (#3,165 → #4,728, 2024)

Noushin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: noo-SHEEN · nuːˈʃiːn
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tender and feminine.

Niayesh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nee-ah-YESH · niːɒːˈjeʃ
Meaning: prayer
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The act of devotion itself.

Setayesh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seh-tah-YESH · seˈtɒːjeʃ
Meaning: praise
Popularity: #11,949 and falling (#5,522 → #11,949, 2024)

Devotional and modern.

Tasnim

Origin: Arabic (Qur’anic)
Pronunciation: taz-NEEM · tæzˈniːm
Meaning: a spring in Paradise
Popularity: #3,626 and rising (#4,033 → #3,626, 2024)

The water the blessed drink.

Toba

Origin: Arabic, from Islamic tradition, used in Persian
Pronunciation: TOH-buh · ˈtoʊ.bə
Meaning: linked to the tree of paradise described in Islamic tradition, and to the word for repentance
Popularity: #6,349 and rising (#7,599 → #6,349, 2024)

Two layered meanings.

Zahra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAH-ruh · ˈzɑːrə
Meaning: the radiant/blooming one (an epithet of Fatima, daughter of Muhammad)
Popularity: #543 and rising (#555 → #543, 2024)

One of the most common Persian girl names.

Marziyeh

Origin: Arabic (used in Persian)
Pronunciation: mar-zee-YEH · mɑːrziːˈjeɪ
Meaning: pleasing, content
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

After the great singer Marziyeh.

Mehrava

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: meh-RAH-vah · mɛhˈrɑːvɑː
Meaning: voice of love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Compound; poetic.

Aram

Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic (also a legendary Armenian patriarch name)
Pronunciation: ah-RAHM · ɑːˈrɑːm
Meaning: Tranquility, peace
Popularity: #13,599 and rising (#15,329 → #13,599, 2024)

Unisex; gentle.

Aramnoosh

Origin: Persian (modern compound)
Pronunciation: ah-rahm-NOOSH · ɑːrɑːmˈnuːʃ
Meaning: a blend of ‘calm/peace’ and ‘sweet’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare compound.

Faryal

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: fahr-YAHL · færˈjɒːl
Meaning: Honor, light from afar
Popularity: #15,948 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Elegant and uncommon.

Granaz

Origin: Pashto or Persian (origin unclear)
Pronunciation: grah-NAHZ · ɡrɑːˈnɑːz
Meaning: Pride, dignity
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a strong-spirited girl.

Ghazaleh

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: gah-zah-LEH · ɢɒzæˈle
Meaning: A gazelle, a graceful and delicate creature
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the lyric poem form Hafez perfected.

Ghazal

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: gah-ZAHL · ɣæˈzæl
Meaning: A gazelle, used as a term for a graceful, delicate person
Popularity: #4,218 and rising (#4,679 → #4,218, 2024)

The poetic form itself becomes the name.

Hediyeh

Origin: Persian, from Arabic
Pronunciation: heh-dee-YEH · hediːˈje
Meaning: A gift
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a long-awaited baby.

Hilda

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: HIL-dah · ˈhɪldə
Meaning: battle
Popularity: #3,053 and falling (#2,989 → #3,053, 2024)

Cross-cultural usage.

Sound-Forward Persian Names — Short, Punchy, Travel-Friendly

For parents who want a name that sails through international airports without revision. Two or three syllables, all phonemes that exist in English.

Crosses into Spanish, Japanese, and English seamlessly.

Lena

Origin: Scandinavian/German/Russian (pet form of Helena, Magdalena, or Yelena)
Pronunciation: LEE-nah · ˈliːnə
Meaning: short/pet form of Helena, Magdalena, or Yelena
Popularity: #263 and rising (#270 → #263, 2024)

Anna

Origin: Hebrew (via Latin/Greek)
Pronunciation: AN-ah · ˈænə
Meaning: grace
Popularity: #94 and falling (#79 → #94, 2024)

Kira

Origin: Irish (via Ciara) and/or Persian (via Cyrus); also used in Japan
Pronunciation: KEER-uh · ˈkɪrə
Meaning: Irish ‘ciar’ = dark/black (via Ciara); also linked to Persian Cyrus (disputed sense) — not ‘shining’ as commonly claimed
Popularity: #455 and falling (#429 → #455, 2024)

Coincides with Slavic Kira.

Dina

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: DEE-nuh · ˈdiːnə
Meaning: judged, vindicated
Popularity: #1,334 and falling (#1,155 → #1,334, 2024)

Sana

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-nuh · ˈsɑːnə
Meaning: radiance, brilliance
Popularity: #1,449 and falling (#1,322 → #1,449, 2024)

Bright sound.

Roxy

Origin: English (short form of Roxana)
Pronunciation: RAHK-see · ˈrɒksi
Meaning: little light
Popularity: #3,204 and falling (#3,007 → #3,204, 2024)

Modern nickname for old name.

Soli

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: SO-lee · ˈsoʊli
Meaning: Pure, alone
Popularity: #8,861 and falling (#8,419 → #8,861, 2024)

Used as standalone.

Nikta

Origin: Greek
Meaning: night
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings