Pashtuns, also called Paktun, Pushtan, or Pathan are one the largest ethnic groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are united by the Pashto language, which is tied with the Indo-Iranian language family.
The majority of Pashto names is derived from Turkish, Arabic, and Persian names, which have roots in Islamic names. Children are given two or three names at the time of birth. In the case of more than one given name, one will be the child’s informal name or the ‘most called name’.
For males, Muhammad, the name of the prophet of Islam, is picked as the first given name in case of more than one given name. But Muhammad isn’t the informal name or most called name amongst the Pashtuns, considering the popularity of this name in Islamic countries. Pashtun girls have at the most two given names. The female names mostly end in –ai or –a. Upon marriage, women take the family name of their husband’s.
The use of family names is prominent amongst Pashto speaking families. The family names of the Pashtuns are derived from tribe or region they live in. The surnames derived from tribe usually end in –i or ai. Below, MomJuction has listed some of the most popular Pashto baby boy and girl names for you. Take a look!
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheydan | Peaceful or patient | Unisex | |||
Gzifa | The peaceful one, calm and patient. | Girl | |||
Serina | Calm and tranquil, a girl with a calm and tranquil nature | Girl | |||
Uzuri | Beauty | Girl | |||
Zalmai | Youthful or young | Boy | |||
Zelgai | Heart | Boy | |||
Aghala | A girl with a pleasing personality | Boy | |||
Amail | A necklace or a neck adornment | Boy | |||
Amu | Amu is the name of a river that encompasses Central Asia. | Boy | |||
Andam | Something that lasts forever or till eternity | Boy | |||
Angar | Ember or a piece of glowing or burning coal or wood in a dying fire. | Boy | |||
Angeza | The one who puts reason and logic in everything. | Girl | |||
Apana | Pashto term for almond, also used as a baby girl name | Girl | |||
Armaghan | Gift or a gift of God | Boy | |||
Asfand | Asfand is the Pasto version of Esfandiyār. It means a king or a brave hero | Boy | |||
Awalmir | A person capable of being a prime chief or leader | Boy | |||
Azmaray | Azmaray is the Pashto version of Zmaray and means lion. | Boy | |||
Babrak | Babrak is the Pashto word of the little basilica flower | Boy | |||
Bacha | Bacha, also the name of a famous Pashtun leader, means king | Boy | |||
Badam | It is Pashto for almond. | Boy | |||
Badrai | Badrai is the name of a fairy in a famous Arabic fairy tale. It means full moon. | Girl | |||
Bahramand | A person who brings happiness wherever he goes, fortunate and thriving | Boy | |||
Bahrawar | Someone with a big heart | Boy | |||
Bakhtawara | A baby girl born with tremendous luck | Girl | |||
Balach | One with beautiful locks of hair | Boy | |||
Balay | Cornice or a hanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain or cliff | Boy | |||
Balbala | Pashto term for bulbul or nightingale | Girl | |||
Barlas | The one born with a strong, powerful and authoritative nature | Boy | |||
Baryal | One who grows up to be strong and brave | Boy | |||
Baseer | Born with a great vision | Boy | |||
Batoor | One who is brave, courageous, valiant and fearless | Boy | |||
Bazgar | An occupational name, meaning peasant | Boy | |||
Benazira | A girl with no comparison | Girl | |||
Beroj | Beroj is the name of a gemstone found in Kunar, aquamarine | Boy | |||
Brekhna | Lightning or lightning bolt | Girl | |||
Dagar | A term used for an open space or battlefield in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. | Boy | |||
Darab | Admiral or the senior most commander of a navy or fleet. | Boy | |||
Darman | A medication, medicine or a remedy | Boy | |||
Darwesh | In Pashto, Darwesh is a term used for mystics | Boy | |||
Daryab | Daryab is a variation of Darya and means river | Boy | |||
Diyar | Diyar is a type of wood obtained from Cedrus deodara tree | Boy | |||
Droon | One with a respectable personality or heavy or literary | Boy | |||
Durkhanai | Gem. It's also the name of the heroine of famous folk tale, Adam Khan aw Durkhanai | Girl | |||
Faridun | One who is three times strong. It's also the name of a character in Shah Nama. | Boy | |||
Gabina | Honey or as sweet as honey. A girl with sweet disposition | Girl | |||
Gahez | Morning | Boy | |||
Gedi | A bunch of beautiful flowers | Boy | |||
Ghakhtalay | One who is strong and powerful | Boy | |||
Ghamay | Name of a precious stone in Pashto | Boy | |||
Gharsanay | One belonging to the mountains | Boy | |||