Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
The Persian Empire, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indus River, is considered one of the most culturally advanced empires. Persian baby names act as the gateway into this empire's complex linguistic and political history. The ancient Persian language was basically an Indo-European language influenced by Italian, Russian, and English, with its own writing system. The Islamic conquests made Arabic the language of Persia. But later, the Islamized Persian rule revived Persian as the literary language. Thus Persian names may have Arabic, ancient Persian, and Turkish sources.
Persian names have unique meanings and are often inspired by characters from old Persian literature. From Arzhang to Afri to Dariush to Farhad, they are known to derive up to fifteen percent of their names from the epic poem Shahnameh written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi.
Another unique feature of these names is the lack of a middle name. Traditionally, the names of the Persian speakers residing in Iran consist of a first name and a family name. Parents give the first name to their child at the time of birth or on the sixth day. The family name is inherited from the father or mother. In modern times, Persian names have evolved to include toponymic family names and paternal surnames with suffixes like zadeh or zaden meaning ‘son-of.’ A Persian first or family name can have multiple parts but must be distinguished clearly as a first or last name.
Like several other cultures around the world, women in Persian families are allowed to retain their surnames after marriage. However, should they wish, they are allowed to add their husband’s name to their last name following a hyphen. In addition, Persian names, embodying advanced civilization, elegance, and royalty, have also been gaining extreme importance in the US. With so many beautiful Persian baby names, it could get a bit cumbersome and confusing for parents to select one. To ease your trouble, we have handpicked and curated a comprehensive list of Persian baby names with meanings to help you find all the best names for your child under one roof.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kayvan |  |  Boy | The universe |
| Keeyan | |  Unisex | Royal; Beloved |
| Keilyn | | Unisex | Victorious |
| Keshwar | | Boy | A country or a territory, A state ruled by a king |
| Keyani | | Unisex | Rising sun |
| Keyvan | | Boy | Universe |
| Khaanam | |  Girl | The wealthy wife |
| Khamar | | Boy | Cheerful |
| Khashar | | Boy | Brave boy |
| Khatuna | | Girl | Lady or woman |
| Khawaja | | Boy | Mister; A spiritual title; An Iranian title for master or lord |
| Khawla | | Girl | One of the great beauty |
| Khaza | | Unisex | Unknown; Rare; Mysterious |
| Khizr | | Unisex | Divine guidance or leader and guide |
| Khortdad | | Boy | Man without a flaw |
| Khusro | | Boy | King; Ruler; A variant of Khusru |
| Khusru | | Boy | King; Ruler; A variant of Khusro |
| Khwaja | | Boy | A maser; He who owns |
| Kimia | | Unisex | Alchemy or Chemistry |
| Kiramay | | Girl | Light of sun |
| Kiriana | | Girl | Far-sighted |
| Kirus | | Boy | Breton form of Cyrus, meaning sun |
| Kiya | | Girl | King |
| Kiyan | | Boy | Royal one |
| Kobrina | | Girl | Dominant |
| Kokab | | Girl | Star; Celestial Body |
| Korosh | | Boy | Korosh means Young |
| Kourosh | | Boy | First King of Iran; The Sun; Historically translated into English and Latin as "Cyrus" |
| Kowkab | | Girl | Star; Celestial Body; A variant of name Kokab |
| Kowsar | | Unisex | Abundance or giver of plenty |
| Ksaman | | Girl | Ksaman means Beautiful like a Jasmine |
| Ksathra | | Boy | Ruler |
| Kurus | | Boy | Name of many Persian Kings and Rulers |
| Kushaada | | Boy | Having a lot of capacity; Capacious |
| Kyani | | Unisex | Strong and powerful |
| Kyra | | Girl | Throne; Sun |
| Kyrah | | Girl | Far-sighted; Light |
| Ladarius | | Boy | The upholder of God; One who protects |
| Laela | | Girl | A woman who is dark-haired and beautiful |
| Lale | | Girl | Love as perfect as a red tupil flower |
| Laleh | | Girl | The ever-lasting love that the red tulip flowers symbolize |
| Larmina | | Girl | Blue sky |
| Layla | | Girl | Night; Dark |
| Laylee | | Unisex | Joyful, playful, night |
| Leila | | Girl | Night time; Dark |
| Leilah | | Girl | Night beauty |
| Leili | | Unisex | Dark-haired beauty |
| Leilia | | Girl | She who is born in the night |
| Leilyn | | Girl | A dark beauty that is born in the nighttime |
| Lejla | | Girl | A dark-haired beautiful woman who is born at night |
| Lelah | | Girl | A beauty that comes alive at night |
| Leyli | | Girl | Night, beauty, love |
| Liana | | Girl | My God has answered; To twine around |
| Lyanna | | Girl | God has answered or Girl who has a pretty face |
| Mage | | Unisex | A practitioner of magic; Sorcerer; Wizard |
| Mah tab | | Girl | One whose beauty is like the Moon |
| Mah wash | | Boy | A person with a face as pretty as the moon |
| Mah-naz | | Girl | One who is glorious like the Moon |
| Mahafuzur | | Boy | The one whose heart and love belong to the sea |
| Mahatab | | Girl | Moonlight |
| Mahlegha | | Girl | One whose face is lit by the moon |
| Mahnaz | | Girl | A woman glorious like a Moon |
| Mahrosh | | Girl | She is bright like a Moon |
| Mahroz | | Girl | Girl with the face of the Moon |
| Mahrukh | | Girl | A woman whose face is Moon-like |
| Mahsa | | Girl | Woman who resembles a Moon |
| Mahsati | | Girl | One who is like the Moon |
| Mahsheed | | Girl | A woman who obtains the radiance of the Moon |
| Mahta | | Girl | A Moon-like individual |
| Mahtab | | Girl | She is beautiful like the Moon |
| Mahtalat | | Girl | A person with the beauty of the Moon |
| Mahteab | | Girl | She looks just like the Moon |
| Maihtab | | Boy | He whose face shines like a Moon |
| Maisil | | Boy | One who is a born warrior; accepting being |
| Makali | | Girl | One whose looks are compared to the Moon |
| Malakeh | | Girl | A beautiful queen who is also a messenger |
| Margaret | | Girl | Pearl |
| Margat | | Girl | Person who is a cluster of blossoms and like a pearl |
| Marzhan | | Girl | Pearl or coral |
| Masih | | Boy | A person that is blessed |
| Mastanah | | Girl | A person with happy and joyous personality |
| Mastoureh | | Girl | A woman who is veiled and chaste |
| Masuma | | Unisex | Obedient and pious |
| Mayel | | Unisex | A well-spoken person |
| Maziar | | Boy | Exalted or Noble |
| Meesha | | Girl | Marigold flower; Smile |
| Meg | | Girl | She is the child of light |
| Meggie | | Girl | The daughter of the light |
| Meggy | | Girl | The child of the light |
| Meghdad | | Boy | The justice of the Heaven |
| Mehlika | | Girl | As beautiful as moon |
| Mehr | | Unisex | Affection; Kindness |
| Mehrab | | Unisex | Sacred, holy, sanctuary |
| Mehri | | Girl | Someone who is lovable, kind, and friendly |
| Mehriban | | Girl | Kind-hearted; Merciful; Gentle |
| Mehrin | | Girl | Strong, compassionate, intelligent |
| Mehrish | | Girl | The most beautiful Aroma full of wonders |
| Mehrnaz | | Girl | The brilliant and radiant charm of the Sun; A state of high honour of the biggest star |
| Mehru | | Girl | A girl as gracious as the sun |
| Mehry | | Girl | Kind and lovable |
Persian baby names represent the historical, cultural, and traditional Persian practices associated with naming babies. They are a reflection of the region's diverse heritage and ever-evolving identity. The religious and linguistic diversity of the region, along with the emphasis on familial bonds, has shaped the complex naming traditions of Persia. Though Persians continue to navigate the modern world easily, the traditional act of naming remains a deeply cherished practice. In an attempt to preserve the native roots, MomJunction has produced the above list of names that aims to ease the name selection process.
Infographic: Traditional And Pleasant Persian Baby Names
Persian names have their roots in the Persian language, which is a language that has existed for centuries. Therefore, it is not unsurprising to see these names reflect the history and cultural diversity of Persia. The following infographic details a few such elegant Persian names for you to consider for naming your baby.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Persian baby names mean lucky?
Bakhit, a transliteration of Bakheet and Bakhet, and Bakhtawar, derived from the Persian terms bakht and avar, means ‘fortunate’ or ‘lucky’ in Persian. Similarly, Behruz, an alternate transcription of Behrouz, and Parviz, a variant of Parvaiz and Parwiz, are some Persian baby names associated with luck, fortune, and happiness.
2. What Persian baby names mean angel?
Persian offers a variety of baby names that carry the meaning of angel. Fereshteh is a name that directly signifies 'angel.' Another option is Soroosh, which translates to 'messenger angel.' Lastly, we have the name Yazdan, which holds the dual meaning of 'god' or 'divinity' alongside 'angel.' These names beautifully represent the deep cultural heritage of the Persian language and the importance attributed to celestial entities.
3. What are some gender-neutral Persian baby names?
There are several gender-neutral Persian baby names to consider. Golshan means 'rose garden' and can be used for both boys and girls. Khurshid translates to 'shining sun' and is suitable for both genders. Dana means 'wise' and is a gender-neutral name in Persian and Arabic. These names offer a diverse and inclusive choice for parents seeking gender-neutral options in Persian culture.
4. What are some Persian baby names inspired by nature?
Persian nature-inspired names include Ziba (beauty), Parisa (fairy-like), Soroush (messenger), Darya (ocean), Arash (brilliant arrow), Bahar (spring), and Roya (dream). These names showcase the essence of Persian culture and its deep connection with the natural world.
5. What are some Persian baby names that are easy to pronounce in English?
Sara, meaning princess; Layla, symbolizing night; Darius, denoting good possessor; Rumi, originating from Rome; Amir, signifying prince; and Tara, representing a star, are some Persian baby names with English-friendly pronunciations. These names evoke meaning and cultural richness while remaining easily pronounceable in English.
6. What are some Persian baby names that have a deep spiritual meaning?
Persian names embody profound spirituality. Rumi, the renowned poet and mystic; Zahra, signifying radiance and blossoming; Sufyan, denoting a follower of mysticism; Parisa, resembling a fairy; and Cyrus, symbolizing the sun or throne. These names hold distinct spiritual significance within Persian culture.
7. What are some Persian baby names with historical significance?
Persian baby names of historical importance are Cyrus, honoring Cyrus the Great, Darius, paying homage to Darius the Great, Xerxes, commemorating Xerxes the Great, Farah, meaning "joy," linked to Queen Farah Pahlavi, and Rostam, a revered hero in Persian mythology.
8. What are some Persian baby names that have been popularized in Western culture?
Persian baby names like Aria, Cyrus, Darius, Esme, Layla, Leila, Nasir, and Zara have surged in popularity in the West. They embody Persia's vibrant heritage and are now widely embraced in Western societies, reflecting their cultural richness.
9. What are some Persian baby names that are derived from Arabic or Turkish?
Persian baby names like Zahra (flower), Layla (night), and Amir (prince) originate from Arabic, while Arman (desire), Leyla (night), and Selim (peaceful) have Turkish roots. These names embody the intertwined cultural and historical bonds among Persian, Arabic, and Turkish languages and customs.
10. What are some Persian baby names that are associated with positive traits or virtues?
Persian baby names embody strength, happiness, beauty, and love. Some examples are Bahram (Victorious), Farah (Joy), Parvaneh (Butterfly), Roshan (Bright), Mehr (Affection), and Nazanin (Delicate). These names reflect positive qualities and carry a profound message of optimism.
