150+ Popular Persian Last Names Or Surnames, With Meanings

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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.

In This Article

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.

Haji, Persian last name

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.’

protip_icon Did you know?
Before 1919, Persians did not use any last names. Prefixes and suffixes were added to an individual’s given name. Reza Shah made the use of last names mandatory as part of secularization and modernization reforms (1).

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.

Persian last name, Arab

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

protip_icon Point to ponder
If the last name comes from an honored ancestor, it will begin with Al or Ibn. For example, Al-Hussein (2).

55. 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.

Persian last name Nouri

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

Persian last name Hajsafi

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

Persian last name Irani

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

top persian surnames with meanings (infographic)

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).

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.

Personal Experience: Source

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. The Structure Of Persian Names.
    https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=51fb6fcef42d4a9751b81c88acad65e052fe1d47
  2. A Guide To Names And Naming Practices.
    https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf
  3. IFLA Cataloging Section.
    https://repository.ifla.org/bitstream/123456789/2043/1/NoP%20Iran-2022.pdf
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Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

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Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

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