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Persian surnames are not just identifiers; they carry deep cultural implications, often reflecting the history, profession, or geographical origins of families. Understanding these names provides insight into traditional Persian identity and heritage. Persian last names reflect a wealth of history, tradition, and identity. They bear lineage, geography, and societal roles in this culture that echo through the annals of time. From the bustling bazaars of Tehran to the tranquil landscapes of Shiraz, Persian surnames offer hints of the bygone era while shaping the narrative of modern Iran. You can find surnames with affixes, compound surnames, and names influenced by the Arabic tradition. Persian last names have transcended boundaries. Their appeal is not just limited to Iran, Turkey, or the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. People in the US, UK, Italy, and Hungary also use them in various ways. In this comprehensive list, we’ll dive into a series of common, rare, and ancient Persian surnames.
Key Takeaways
- Persian surnames give insights into the ancestral origins, with terms like ‘Tehrani,’ ‘Shirazi,’ and ‘Isfahani.’ They show the ties to particular regions within Iran.
- Many Persian or Iranian surnames combine father’s name and the suffix -i. Mohammadi and Hosseini are the two most popular examples.
- Arabic elements are interwoven into many Persian surnames because of centuries of cultural exchange and the spread of Islam.
150+ Persian Last Names And Meanings
Persia, which is in Iran now, covers a huge geographical area. The names below reflect the Kurdish, Azerbaijani, and Turkish cultures in this place.
1. Abbas
Abbas is a famous Persian last name that indicates a lion. The Banu Abbas is an Arabic tribe with this last name.
2. Agha
Agha denotes a chief. It is an honorific title for a civilian or officer. Agha Khan, a famous name bearer, was the Imam of the Nizari Ismailis.
3. Akbar
Also pronounced Ahkbar, this Persian last name emphasizes greatness and superiority. This last name has Arabic origin and has been borne by many famous emperors in history.
4. Amani
Amani is one of the common Persian surnames that indicates descent from or associates with a person called Aman. It also means ‘wish in Persian.’
5. Ansari
Ansari indicates a supporter. Anṣar is the plural of Nāṣir, which means ‘friend supporter.’ Earlier, it was used to denote the people of Medina who assisted Prophet Muhammad after the Hegira in 622 AD.
6. Azad
Azad is one of the highly popular Persian last names that denote status. It indicates freedom. A famous bearer was Mahmoud Mosharraf Azad Tehrani, the Iranian poet.
7. Bayat
Bayat implies ‘Chevalier’ or ‘knight.’ Besides Arabic countries, this Persian surname is also prevalent in the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa.
8. Beg
Beg is a family name implying ‘son of.’ It comes from the Turkish word that means ‘lord’ or ‘chief.’
9. Chamran
This Persian surname means a shy person. Chamran is also an Assyrian word that comes from the mythological Queen Shamiram.
10. Eslami
Eslami indicates a connection with someone called Eslam. In English, it means Islamic.
11. Farzan
Farzan is a Persian surname that means ‘wise’ or ‘smart.’ Antonia Noori Farzan, the American model is a key figure bearing the name.
12. Haji
The Persian surname Haji means someone who has done the journey of hadj from ḥajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca.
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13. Hasani
Hasani indicates the descent of a person among Shiite Muslims. This Persian surname is prevalent in Iran.
14. Hashemi
Hashemi is a popular Persian last name that denotes an association with the great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad. A noted bearer is Javad Hashemi, the Iranian actor.
15. Massoud
Massoud means ‘a happy or lucky person.’ The name is also found in the Middle East and Asia with a variety of spellings.
16. Mir
Mir implies a general. Its roots can be traced to the 14th century. Hamid Mir, the Pakistani journalist is the most famous name bearer.
17. Mohammadi
This last name comes from Prophet Mohammad. It is a highly prevalent family name in Iran.
18. Moridi
Moridi implies ‘wise’ or ‘brave.’ An example of this Persian last name is Sina Moridi, the Iranian football midfielder.
19. Motahhari
It is a common surname whose meaning is not known. Morteza Motahhari, the Iranian politician is a notable name bearer.
20. Najafi
This last name comes from Najaf, an important city in Iraq. Bagher Najafi, the Iranian scholar is a bearer.
21. Saatchi
Saatchi means ‘watchmaker.’ It originates from saat or watch. A famous bearer is Ercan Saatçi, the Turkish musician and record producer.
22. Shah
Shah means ‘merchant.’ In Sanskrit, it implies ‘honest.’ Shah was also a title given to given to the emperors and kings in the past.
23. Sharifi
The Persian last name, Sharifi means ‘honorable.’ Al-Sharifi is a renowned surname in the holy city of Najaf and is most popular among Afghans.
24. Shafaei
The name means ‘ a healer.’ One of the notable bearers is Mahvash Shafaei, the Iranian fencer.
25. Taghi
Taghi means ‘ a chief.’ The surname is widespread in Iran and Morocco.
26. Taj
Taj means ‘crown’ in Persian. It has Sanskrit and Arabic origins apart from Persian. Ali Baba Taj, the Pakistani poet is a famous person bearing the name.
27. Talat
The Persian surname means ‘prayer’ or ‘countenance’ and it has Arabic origins.
28. Tehrani
It means ‘a city of Tehran.’ Tehran is the capital of Iran and so, is a significant last name.
29. Vida
It is a Persian last name and surname that means ‘prominent’ or ‘apparent.’
Did you know?30. Yousefi
One of the beautiful Persian last names, Yousefi means ‘son of Joseph.’ It’s a Biblically significant name.
31. Zamani
Zamani indicates a person who is from Zaman. The surname is used in Asia and Africa and is related to time and the past.
32. Zare
Zare is an occupational Persian last name and means ‘cultivator’ or ‘farmer.’
Common Persian Last Names
The following surnames are used by a considerable population in Iran. They are enduring symbols of Persian heritage and unity.
33. Abed
Abed means ‘worshipper.’ Hawlu Pasha al-Abid, an important Syrian administrator during the time of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz is a key example.
34. Afar
Afar means ‘dust.’ It is one of the unadulterated Persian Jewish surnames that indicates a strong Jewish self-image.
35. Alavi
The name Alavi indicates an association with Ali, who was the first imam of the Shiite Muslims. Its major variant is the Persian Alawi.
36. Alavitabar
It is a common Persian surname that points to a lineage. Alavitabar means ‘of the family of Alavi.’ The suffix tabar indicates a family.
37. Arab
It is easy to mention that this last name means one who is associated with an Arabic country.
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38. Asgari
The last name originates from Askari, an Arabic personal name. It is also assumed that Asgar, another personal name is its root.
39. Avesta
Avesta means ‘principle’ or ‘foundation.’ A major person bearing the last name is Mehrdad Avesta, the Iranian poet.
40. Ayari
An adjective of Ayyar, Ayari means ‘vagabond.’ This is a Maghrebi and Persian surname. Soheil Ayari, the French-Iranian race car driver is a noteworthy figure.
41. Azimi
Azimi shows an association with someone called Azim. This surname means ‘mighty’ or ‘magnificent.’
42. Bahrami
This last name denotes a connection with a person Bahram. It was a personal name as well, borne by many Sassanian kings of Persia.
43. Dabiri
Dabiri means ‘script for secrets.’ A noteworthy mention of the name is Shahram Dabiri Oskuei, the Iranian politician.
44. Darvish
Darvish is an alternate transliteration of the Persian ‘dervish,’ which indicates a Sufi aspirant. Amir Darvish, the American actor is a famous bearer.
45. Dehghan
One of the elegant last names, Dehghan means ‘farmer.’ It comes from the term Deh, which refers to the farmlands or villages.
46. Fallah
The surname in Persian means ‘cultivator.’ In Liberia and Sierra-Lones, it means ‘fourth-born boy.’
47. Farahmand
Farahmand means ‘magnificent.’ Reza Farahmand, the Iranian film director is a famous bearer.
48. Farrokh
Farrokh indicates ‘one who is happy.’ It is a common Persian surname in Iran and Central Asia. A famous bearer is Kaveh Farrokh, a Canadian author of Iranian descent.
49. Fathi
Fathi denotes ‘victorious’ and it is also the name of a village in Iran.
50. Feyzi
The Turkish Persian surname means ‘grace.’ It is borne by Mohammad Feyzi, an Iranian academic and reformist politician.
51. Gharib
It is a common Persian last name that means ‘strange’ or ‘stranger.’ A notable example is Badr al-Zaman Gharib, the Iranian linguist.
52. Ghassab
The surname means ‘butcher’ or ‘ a son of a butcher.’ It is a professional-oriented surname of Arabic origin.
53. Habibi
Habibi is a common Persian last name that means ‘beloved.’ A notable example is Emam-Ali Habibi, the Iranian freestyle wrestler.
54. Hossein
A variant of Hossain, Hossein implies ‘good’ or ‘handsome.’ It is also a short form of Hasan.
Point to ponder55. Imam
Imam means ‘one who leads the way.’ The title is usually reserved for those who lead prayers in a mosque.
56. Izadi
The Persian last name means ‘divinity’ or ‘angel.’ It stems from the term Īzadī, which means ‘of God.’
57. Jamshidi
Jamshidi is the name of an important Arabic tribe in Afghanistan. The name’s origin is jam soda, or ‘gathered.’
58. Kamangar
It is a village’s name in Iran. It is also used as a surname. One of its famous bearers is Farzad Kamangar, the Irani Kurdish teacher.
59. Khaleghi
The last name Khaleghi means ‘creator.’ Ruhollah Khaleqi, the Iranian musician is an important name bearer.
60. Khalili
The common surname implies ‘originating from Al-Khalil or Hebron.’ Kahalil, which means ‘companion’ is the root term of this surname.
61. Kaveh
Kaveh means ‘royal.’ It is a given name and last name. A significant figure bearing it is Ardalan Shoja Kaveh, an Iranian actor.
62. Latifi
Latifi implies descent from Latif. It is used in Iran and Afghanistan. A famous person with the name is Artan Latifi, a Kosovan footballer.
63. Lutfi
Male personal and last name, Lutfi means ‘kind’ or ‘gracious.’
64. Madani
It is a habitational name for an individual from the Islamic holy city of Medina. The Arabic term for the same is Madīnah, which is a holy epithet.
65. Maleki
The name denotes an association with someone called Malek. Besides a surname, Maleki is a place name.
66. Milani
Milani denotes ‘from the middle of the plain’ or ‘from Milan.’ This Persian last name is common in Italy apart from Iran.
67. Mullah
The Persian surname Mullah means ‘a master.’ The name comes from the Arabic Mawla with a mutation of the short vowels at the beginning. This surname is used to denote mosque leaders.
68. Navabi
Navabi means ‘of Navab.’ Navab were traditionally rich Mughal rulers in India. This surname has survived since the medieval period. Shirin Navabi, the Iranian female chess player is a major name bearer.
69. Nasri
Nasri means ‘support’ or ‘victory.’ Makram Nasri Kaiser, an Egyptian scientist was a famous namesake.
70. Noori
The beautiful and common Persian last name Noori means ‘light’ or ‘shining.’ It is a respelling of Nuri.
71. Nouri
Nouri means ‘light’ or ‘my light.’ Both Muslims and Christians use this Persian last name.
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72. Nazari
Nazari means ‘son of Nazar.’ This Persian surname originates from the town of Nazareth where Jesus spent a lot of time growing up.
73. Pahlavi
Pahlavi means ‘time traveler.’ It was also the name of a royal Iranian dynasty.
74. Parsi
Parsi means ‘Persian.’ It is used for a member of a group of followers in India who worship the Persian prophet Zoroaster.
75. Parvin
Parvin means ‘the Pleiades.’ It comes from the Persian given name Parvīn and is used in Middle English to indicate a paragon or the best example.
76. Rahimi
Rahimi implies someone compassionate. It’s a common Persian last name, especially among the Afghan, Turkish, and European communities.
77. Rouhani
Rouhani in Persian means ‘spiritual.’ It also means ‘cleric. Mansour Rouhani, a Pahlavi-era politician in Iran is a key namesake.
78. Sadr
Sadr implies a chief or a leading figure. It also means ‘chest (of men).’
79. Saeedi
Saeedi denotes someone who is blessed. The last name relates to a relative of the family who was considered having good luck.
80. Shabani
Shabani is one of the most common Persian surnames. It denotes the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
81. Shahsevan
The Persian last name Shahsevan means ‘those who love the shah.’ This name is also used to denote many Azerbaijani-speaking Turkic groups that live in northwestern Iran.
82. Yazdani
Yazdani is one of the common Persian surnames that refer to a deity. People from places in Iran like Kerman, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Taleghan also use this surname.
83. Zakaria
The Persian last name denotes a messenger of God. It derives from the Arabic given name Zakariā, who was an Islamic prophet.
84. Zarei
Zarei implies ‘ a farmer.’ Its root term is the Arabic Zari.
Rare Persian Surnames
Although less common, these last names hold deep significance in Iran. They evoke a sense of uniqueness and individuality.
85. Abbasian
The rare Persian name comes from the given name Abbas, which means ‘austere’ in Arabic.
86. Abdi
The name means ‘good help.’ It comes from a Hebrew word that means ‘servant of god’ or ‘a slave.’
87. Ahmadabadi
This surname implies ‘from the village Pare Ahmad.’ The abadi suffix denotes a village.
88. Anwari
Anwari implies one who is full of pity. It is one of the rare Persian surnames used in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
89. Arbab
Arbab is a Persian surname indicating families with a significant background in Iranian history. They were landlords and chiefs of their tribes.
90. Atef
Atef comes from Atif. This last name in the Persian culture means ‘kindness’ and ‘affection.’
91. Cawas
In Persian, Cawas means ‘arch.’ A noteworthy bearer is John Cawas of Toofani of the Tarzan fame.
92. Dabbagh
The Persian last name means ‘tanner.’ It also means ‘currier’ in Arabic.
93. Ebrahimian
The surname shows an association with Ebrahim. It is a form of Abrahamian and is found among Armenians in Iran.
94. Esfahani
A habitational name for a person from the city of Esfahān, Esfahani In English is spelled Isfahan or Ispahan.
95. Gabbay
Gabbay is one of the Persian Jewish surnames found in Turkey and Iraq. It is a surname of Iraqi Jewry and is attributed by family lore to Davidic descent.
96. Hajsafi
The name means ‘strength.’ Ehsan Hajsafi, the Iranian professional footballer is a noteworthy namesake.
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97. Iskander
The surname denotes an association with someone called Eskandar, most probably, Alexander the Great. It also means ‘protector of men.’
98. Kakos
Kakos means ‘just’ or ‘noble.’ In Hungarian, it is a habitational name for any place in Szatmár county.
99. Khorrami
Khorrami denotes ‘associated with Khorram.’ A famous name bearer is Mohammad Khorrami, an Iranian freestyle wrestler.
100. Kiani
The last name derives from the royal title of the semi-legendary Kayanian dynasty of Iran. A similar meaning of this surname is ‘an ancient king.’
101. Mirzaei
The rare Persian surname denotes the rank of a high nobleman. It is also used to identify patriarchal lineage.
102. Mousavi
The Persian last name denotes an association with Mūsā al-Kāẓim. He was the seventh imam of the Shiite Muslims.
103. Pashaei
The last name indicates a researcher. Its famous namesake is Giti Pashaei, the Iranian singer and musician.
104. Pour
Pour means ‘son.’ This surname also occurs at the end of compound names such as Alipour or Ali Pour.
105. Rashidi
This last name means ‘wise’ or ‘omniscient.’ Historically, it is related to a Muslim family from the region of Marv, which is modern-day Turkmenistan.
106. Sattari
The surname means ‘star.’ It comes from the Persian setâr, which also means star.
107. Safavi
It means ‘a pure soul’ and is an adjective made for the name Safi. A notable bearer is Azarmi Dukht Safavi, the Indian poet.
108. Shahzad
It is a name and surname that denotes ‘son of the king.’ It consists of shah or ‘king’ and zad or ‘son of.’ Khurram Shahzad, the Pakistani weightlifter is a prominent person with the name.
109. Tabibi
The Persian Jewish surname means ‘doctor’ or ‘physician.’
110. Tabataei
The rare Persian surname shows a descent from someone called Tabataba, especially Ismail bin Ibrahim al-Ghamr. The Iranian politician Zia’eddin Tabatabaee is a key example.
111. Tootooni
Tootooni is another rare surname, which refers to Tobacconist. It is an occupational surname rarely used among Persians.
112. Turan
Turan means ‘land of Tur.’ The surname is also a feminine name that means ‘Turan’s daughter.’
113. Zadeh
It is a Persian patronymic suffix that means ‘descendant of’ or ‘born of.’ A notable figure is Hashem Beikzadeh, the Iranian footballer.
114. Zandi
Zandi is one of the rare Persian surnames that show descent from the Persian dynasty.
115. Zargari
The surname means ‘goldsmith.’ The Zargari is a Muslim Romani ethnic group that resides mainly in Zargar, Northwestern Iran.
Ancient Persian Surnames
Ancient Persian last names resonate with its rich history dating back to 559 B.C.E. Explore the surnames below that preserve the timeless glory of ancient Persia.
116. Almasi
This last name in Persian means ‘diamond.’ It is one of the ancient Persian Jewish surnames that was originally used as a nickname for a valuable person.
117. Bazzi
Bazzi means a foster brother. Both Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon use this Persian last name. It is also an Italian variant of Bacci.
118. Darya
Darya refers to the sea or ocean. It is also a Turkish unisex name. A prominent namesake is Doğuş Derya, the Turkish Cypriot activist and politician.
119. Elaheh
Elaheh implies ‘goddess.’ It is also closely linked to the worship of natural forces and the earth and sky.
120. Gul
Gul is a beautiful name and surname in Persian that refers to a rose. In Europe and Asia, it is used as a given name. Ajab Gul, the Pakistani actor-turned-director is a notable mention.
121. Haddad
This ancient Persian surname means ‘blacksmith.’ It is prevalent in the Levant and Algeria. The variant of this surname Hada is the name of an ancient Semitic storm-god.
122. Hakimi
Hakimi means a physician or hakim. It also denotes a judge or an association with a hakim. Arezoo Hakimi, the Iranian kayaker is a noteworthy mention.
123. Hatam
Hatam shows a relationship with a person called Hatam. A noteworthy example is Ali Hatami, the Iranian film director.
124. Irani
The surname implies ‘of Iran.’ It shows a connection of the person with Iran. Irani is also used for a person belonging to the Zoroastrian community in India.
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125. Iravani
The ancient Persian surname means ‘from Iravan or Yerevan.’ It is the name of the largest city in Armenia. Reza Iravani, the Iranian-Canadian professor is a well-known namesake.
126. Jaberi
Jaberi comes from Jaber, which means ‘comforter.’ It is also the name of three villages in Iran that makes it a widely popular surname in this country.
127. Javed
Javed means ‘eternal’ or ‘immortal.’ It arises from the Middle Persian jāwēd and Old Persian yāvaitat. A noted bearer is Kanza Javed, the Pakistani author and poet.
128. Kabiri
Kabiri means ‘the great.’ It is also a name for the Chthonic deities of Greek mythology.
129. Kazemi
Kazemi denotes a powerful person. It is most commonly used in Iran, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Arsalan Kazemi, the Iranian basketball player is a noteworthy name bearer.
130. Mafi
It is a common and ancient Persian last name that means ‘exemption’ or ‘forgiveness.’ Mateaki Mafi, the Tongan rugby football player is an important example.
131. Majidi
This Persian last name means ‘honorable’ or ‘glorious.’ This ancient yet common surname comes from the Arabic Majd, which also indicates magnificence.
132. Mirza
Mirza is an ancient Persian surname that is a title of respect before the last name of an official or a scholar. This surname appeared in the 15th century as an appellative term for Timurid dynasty members. This name was taken in deference to their progenitor, the conqueror Timur.
Elaborating on the roots of his last name, Mirza Jamal, a blogger, says ”My surname “Mirza,” derived from the Persian word ‘Amirzadeh’ meaning son of a Prince. My father Mr. Mirza Mohammad Raza, is directly related to Nawab Tafazzul Husain Khan, legal advisor of Nawaab Wajid Ali Shah whom Britishers poisoned on his way back from Calcutta to Lucknow after attending a legal case in the court with East India Company (i).”
133. Morad
The ancient and traditional Persian surname means ‘wish.’ It is also associated with good things and the Arabic Murad is its variant.
134. Navabi
Navabi means ‘of Navab.’ Navab were traditionally rich Mughal rulers in India. This surname has survived since the medieval period. Shirin Navabi, the Iranian female chess player is a prominent person bearing the name.
135. Nehoray
The Persian surname means ‘light.’ It is also spelled Nehorai. This term appears thrice in the Jewish oral tradition of Mishnah.
136. Nikbakht
This surname means ‘god’ or ‘happy.’ It also means ‘happy destination’ and is found mostly in the Tehran province in Iran.
137. Pantea
It is a Persian feminine given name and Romanian surname. It means ‘the most beautiful woman in Asia.’
138. Parsa
Parsa means ‘devout’ and ‘pious.’ It is also a place name. A notable bearer is Ahmad Parsa, the Iranian botanist.
139. Quli
Quli is one of the ancient Persian surnames commonly used. It means ‘servant of the imam.’ Muhammad Alu Qutb Shah was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda.
140. Ranjbar
It means ‘toiler’ or ‘drudge’ in the Persian culture. Mohammad Ranjbar, the Iranian footballer is a prominent name bearer.
141. Rastegar
Rastegar means ‘liberated’ or ‘safe.’ The surname is made of rasta, which means ‘delivered,’ and gar, which means ‘possession.’
142. Riahi
This ancient Persian surname implies ‘contentment.’ People in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia use this last name. A significant bearer is Ali Riahi, the Tunisian singer and composer.
143. Rostami
The surname indicates the ancient Persian hero Rostam. Also known as Rostam The Invincible, his stories have been narrated on the ancient monuments of Naqsh-e Rustam and The Book of Kings.
144. Sadiq
Sadiq means ‘true,’ ‘sincere,’ and ‘faithful.’ It comes from the Arabic ṣadīq, meaning ‘friend.’ A major bearer is Ja’far al-Sadiq, the 8th-century Muslim scholar.
145. Shahrokhi
The surname comes from Shahrokh, which means ‘royal face.’ The Iranian Cleric Seyyed Ahmad Reza Shahrokhi is a well-known name bearer.
146. Shirazi
Shirazi is a habitational name for a person from the city of Shiraz in Iran. The Iranian International Chess Master, Kamran Shirazi is a noteworthy bearer.
147. Tavakoli
Tavakoli denotes a descent from a person named Tavakol. This last name comes from Tawakkul, a word that indicates the Islamic idea of full trust in Allah.
148. Tayyebi
Meaning ‘good’ in Arabic. Tayyebi is an Jewish and Arabic last name. Behnam Tayyebi Kermani, the Iranian wrestler is a noteworthy bearer.
149. Tirmizi
The last name means ‘from Termez,’ which is the capital of the Surxondaryo Region in southern Uzbekistan. The name of this city is sometimes traced to the Greek word thermos, meaning ‘hot.’
150. Vahidi
This last name means ‘from Vahid.’ It is a village in Iran. One of the name bearer is Ahmad Vahidi, the Iranian politician and military commander.
151. Zar
Zar means ‘gold’ or ‘wealth’ in Persian. This surname has Jewish or Israeli roots as it comes from the Hebrew zar, which means ‘foreign.’
Persian last names give us a glimpse of influential ancient dynasties, common occupational roles, and virtues treasured by the people. These surnames tell a story of adaptation while reflecting the enduring bonds of family. They can be linked to a person’s birthplace or family lineage. Indeed, these last names beautifully serve as windows into the vibrant mosaic of Persian and Iranian heritage.
Infographic: 8 Most Popular Persian Surnames With Meanings
Persian surnames hold profound significance. They portray centuries of history, culture, and familial pride. Many are rooted in ancient traditions and preserve heritage and social standing. They weave stories of the Iranian’s ancestors and their contributions to Persian society. In this infographic, you’ll find a list of the top Persian surnames to admire.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Persian surnames change over time?
Yes, Persian surnames can change. Before 1919, Iranians did not use last names. An act of the Vossug ed Dowleh government in 1919 introduced them. This practice expanded during the reign of Reza Shah between 1925 and 1941. He chose Pahlavi as his surname, which had origins in the Sassanid era. Persian last names may be simple nouns, nouns with a suffix, complex compound nouns, or a combination of nouns. Traditionally in Iran, the wife does not modify her last name to that of her husband’s at marriage. But she is free to add it to her own with a hyphen.
2. How are Persian names structured?
Persian last names usually have the -i suffix. Sometimes, the surnames appear with several affixes of Persian origin. They can also be without any affixes. Some last names have a compound form. This results from the juxtaposition of two simple last names (1).
3. Are there any common prefixes or suffixes in Persian surnames?
Common prefixes in Persian last names are Amir, Bani, and Key. The most-used suffixes are Beygi, Saz, Pazhuh, and Niya. These are seen as integral parts of family names in Persian tradition (3).
4. What is the cultural significance of Persian surnames?
Persian surnames often denote an individual’s social status, geographical origins, or historical lineage. Many families take pride in their surnames as they reflect their heritage and the legacies of their ancestors. These names can indicate noble or religious affiliations, as well as connections to specific regions or professions. Since the Muslim conquest of Persia, some Iranian names have Arabic roots, though most are Persian. Persian Christians often have Arabic names similar to their Muslim neighbors but may also use Christian names derived from Arabic, Greek, Neo-Aramaic, or Armenian, reflecting their Armenian, Assyrian, or Georgian heritage.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Mirza Jamal.https://mustafajamal.wordpress.com/about-2/
References
- The Structure Of Persian Names.
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=51fb6fcef42d4a9751b81c88acad65e052fe1d47 - A Guide To Names And Naming Practices.
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf - IFLA Cataloging Section.
https://repository.ifla.org/bitstream/123456789/2043/1/NoP%20Iran-2022.pdf
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