Iran, also called Persia, with its illustrious and historical past, has been an example of a developed nation in ancient times. The Persians are known for their intricately inlaid metalwork and their legacy of show-stopping architecture. In several ancient cities, beautifully decorated pre-Islamic structures remain to this day, as do spectacular mosques and shrines. Persian heritage, traditions, and culture have influenced the many distinctive names you can bestow upon your child. Well-known Persian names, such as Armon, Darius, and Keyon, are strong and sophisticated; while Jasmine, Parisa, and Viana are both bold and pretty. However, you do need to be a tad cautious with Persian baby names. Some of the meanings, myths, and stories behind a name are not always as cheerful as you might imagine. In fact, the Persian boy name, Ahriman means devil or evil spirit. In mythology, this is the name of the god of darkness, death, and destruction. That said, if you do want to choose a Persian name with a positive meaning, there are still many options. Take the Persian boy name Ashtad, which means justice; or the girl name Esme, which means beloved. See, it’s always wise—and fun—to do a little research behind the names on your list before you make a final decision.Got a baby on the way? Consider these 50 Persian baby names.

Here are some of the most popular Persian girl baby names and their origins. Read through to see if any of them could be right for your child.

Adel

Origin: German Meaning: Noble, nobilityAlternative Spellings & Variations: Adal, Adelheidis, AdeleFamous Namesakes: Lillian Adel Cummins is the daughter of singer Tiffani Wood and Neil Cummins. Adele Astaire was an American dancer, stage actress, and singer.Peak Popularity: In the 1800s, Adele, spelled with an “e” was popular and familiar. Adele remained in the US Top 1,000 popular baby names through 1969, then reentered the Top 1,000 in 2010 and has remained there ever since. 

Aliyeh

Origin: PersianMeaning: Heavens, highbornAlternative Spellings & Variations: Aaliyah, Alia, AleahFamous Namesakes: R&B singer Aaliyah (1979-2001)Peak Popularity: Aaliyah peaked at 36 in 2012. In 2020, the name was at 65.

Amira

Origin: Hebrew, ArabicMeaning: Princess, treetop, proverb, or sheaf of cornAlternative Spellings & Variations: AmeraFamous Namesakes: Israeli journalist and author Amira Hass, French actress Amira Casar, and Dutch opera singer, Amira WillighagenPeak Popularity: Amira ranks in the top 500 in the U.S., coming in at No. 284 in 2020.

Baha

Origin: ArabicMeaning: SplendidAlternative Spellings & Variations: BajaPeak Popularity: Baha is a unique name, though it currently does not rank in U.S. births.

Cassandan

Origin: Persian, IndianMeaning: Unknown. Cassandan was one of the wives of Cyrus the Great.Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cassandra is a similar namePeak Popularity: Cassandan is not currently ranked in U.S. births.

Cyra

Origin: Persian, Greek Meaning: Sun or throne, LordAlternative Spellings & Variations: Cy, CyrahFamous Namesakes: Cyra McFadden is an American writer.Peak Popularity: Cyra currently ranks No. 4,433.

Dalileh

Origin: PersianMeaning: Orchard, green fieldAlternate Spellings: DelilahFamous Namesakes: Delilah DiCrescenzo is an American athlete.Peak Popularity: Spelled Delilah, the name ranks No. 69 in the U.S.

Dorri

Origin: Greek Meaning: Beloved, adoredAlternative Spellings & Variations: Dory, Dorry, Dori, DorisFamous Namesakes: Doris was the mythological daughter of the sea god Oceanus.Peak Popularity: Dori entered the list in 1956 and reached its apex rank of No. 704 in the U.S. in 1960. It dropped out of the top 1,000 after 1973. Dorri is not currently ranked in U.S. births.

Esther

Origin: Hebrew Meaning: StarAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ester, Eszti, Eszter, Hester, EssieFamous Namesakes: Swimmer and actress Esther Williams.Peak Popularity: The height of the name’s popularity was unquestionable during the late 1880s and early 1900s. In 2019 Esther ranked No. 32 in New York and No. 37 in New Jersey. Today, it ranks No. 153 nationwide.

Farva

Origin: PersianMeaning: Crown, wealthAlternative Spellings & Variations: Farwa Famous Namesakes: Kevin Heffernan played a character named Farva in the 2001 American comedy film “Super Troopers.“Peak Popularity: Between 2003 and 2018, three girls were named Farwa in the United States.

Gasperina

Origin: Persian, ItalianMeaning: TreasureAlternative Spellings & Variations: GasperFamous Namesakes: This name derives from the Old Persian name, Kaspar, which means treasure bringer, master of the treasure. By the 6th century, the name Gaspar was recorded in mosaic at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy.Peak Popularity: Gasperina is not currently ranked in U.S. births.

Hana

Origin: Arabic Meaning: BlissAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hannah, JohanaFamous Namesakes: Hana Rebecca Hatae is an actress, known for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987), “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993), and “Family Matters” (1989).Peak Popularity: Hana did not appear in the top 1,000 U.S. female names until 1994 (but Hannah dates back to the days of colonization). From 1995–2007, Hannah was in the top 10 female names. As of 2020, it was ranked 39.

Hestia

Origin: Greek Meaning: Goddess of hearth and homeAlternative Spellings & Variations: HestyaFamous Namesakes: Hestia is the name of the Greek goddess of the hearth, home, and chastity. Peak Popularity: Hestia ranked 15,896 among girls’ names in 2020.

Irsia

Origin: Persian, IndianMeaning: RainbowAlternative Spellings & Variations: Irish, Irisha, Irsha, Irushi, IreshaPeak Popularity: Irsia is not currently ranked on the Baby Names popularity charts, nor is it ranked in U.S. births.

Jessamine

Origin: FrenchMeaning: Jasmine flowerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Yazmin, Jasmeen, JessamynFamous Namesakes: Quaker novelist Jessamyn West is the author of “Friendly Persuasion.“Peak Popularity: Jessamine has never made it into the top 1,000 U.S. female names, peaking at 1,052 in 1891.

Khina

Origin: PersianMeaning: Sweet voiceAlternative Spellings & Variations: KinaFamous Namesakes: Kina Dean is a reality TV star who appeared on several MTV reality shows, including, “Road Rules: X-Treme,” “Battle of the Sexes 2,” and “The Duel.“Peak Popularity: In 2020, Kina ranked No. 7,016 among girls’ names.

Laila

Origin: Arabic Meaning: Born at night or nightfall Alternative Spellings & Variations: Layla, Laylah and Lailah Famous Namesakes: Laila Ali (boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali) Peak Popularity: Laila first appears in the Social Security Administration’s records of baby names in 1884, but didn’t appear in the top 1,000 names until 2000. In 2020, Laila was No. 225 among girls’ names.

Malisa

Origin: GreekMeaning: Honey beeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Melissa, Lyssa, LissaPeak Popularity: Based on the Social Security Administration’s Baby Names database, 139 girls in the U.S. have been named Malisa so far in the 21st Century.

Narda

Origin: Greek Meaning: FragrantFamous Namesakes: Narda Onyx was an Estonian American actress.Peak Popularity: 656 newborn girls have been named Narda in the U.S. in the past century.

Parisa

Origin: Iranian, PersianMeaning: Like a fairyFamous Namesakes: Parisa J. Fakhri is an Iranian American actress and voice actress who lives in Texas.Peak Popularity: 981 newborn girls have been named Parisa in the U.S. since 1971.

Rahele

Origin: PersianMeaning: TravelerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Rachelle, Rachele, RahelehFamous Namesakes: Raheleh Rahbari is a Cancer Research UK researcher focusing on mutations acquired during aging and how they can influence susceptibility to disease across generations.Peak Popularity: Rachelle reached a rank of No. 259 in 1984.

Rana

Origin: ArabicMeaning: Glittering object, noticeableAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ronna, RhanaFamous Namesakes: Rana Aylin Foroohar is CNN’s global economic analyst and a global business columnist and associate editor for the Financial Times.Peak Popularity: Rana reached a rank of No. 1,031 in 1971 and Ronna peaked at 728 in 1949.

Sadira

Origin: PersianMeaning: Lotus TreeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Sedera, SederahPeak Popularity: Since 1974, there have been 254 girls named Sadira born in the U.S.

Sara

Origin: HebrewMeaning: PrincessAlternative Spellings & Variations: Sarah, SaraiFamous Namesakes: Sara Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter. Her 2007 sophomore album “Little Voice” debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200.Peak Popularity: Sarah ranked among the top 10 girls’ names in the U.S. from 1978 to 2002, and was in the top 5 for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Sara was ranked 183 in 2020.

Here are some of the most popular Persian baby names for boys, along with their origins, meanings, and popularity.

Abbas

Origin: HebrewMeaning: LionAlternative Spellings & Variations: Abass, AbassiFamous Namesakes: Abbas I of Persia (January 27, 1571-January 29, 1629)Peak Popularity: Abbas peaked at No. 1,666 in 2018, and in 2020 the name was ranked at No. 2,000.

Ahmad

Origin: ArabicMeaning: Greatly praisedFamous Namesakes: Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh is a former footballer who was goalkeeper for the Iranian national team. He played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.Peak Popularity: Ahmad ranked No. 624 in the U.S. in 2020.

Bijan

Origin: PersianMeaning: HeroFamous Namesakes: Bijan Pakzad, who generally went by just his first name, was an Iranian-born menswear designer also known for his fragrances.Peak Popularity: The name Bijan peaked at No. 1,411 in 1990, and in 2020 ranked No. 10,670.

Cyrus

Origin: PersianMeaning: SunAlternative Spellings & Variations: Cyra, Cy, CiroFamous Namesakes: The powerful Cyrus the Great was the 6th century BCE Persian leader who conquered Babylon to establish his empire.Peak Popularity: Cyrus ranked No. 369 in the U.S. in 2020.

Danyal

Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God is my judgeAlternative Spellings & Variations: DanielFamous Namesakes: Danyl Johnson is a British singer.Peak Popularity: Danyal peaked at No. 3,035 in 1998.

Darius

Origin: Greek, Persian Meaning: Kingly, richAlternative Spellings & Variations: Dariuio‎sh, ‎DarioFamous Namesakes: Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings.Peak Popularity: Darius ranked No. 591 in the U.S. in 2020.

Eskander

Origin: Iranian, PersianAlternative Spellings & Variations: Iskander, Askander, Skandar or ScandarFamous Namesakes: Eskander is a surname. Notable people with the surname include Alan Eskander (born 1975), Australian entrepreneur and licensed bookmaker. Peak Popularity: Eskander is currently not ranked on the baby names popularity charts.

Farhad

Origin: Persian Meaning: Suitor, a true and pure loverFamous Namesakes: Farhad Manjoo (born 1978) is a South Africa-born American journalist who has written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.Peak Popularity: The name Farhad peaked at number 3,279 in 1981. 

Farouk 

Origin: Arabic Meaning: Seer of truthFamous Namesakes: Farouk al-Sharaa is the Vice President of Syria.Peak Popularity: Farouk peaked at No. 5,010 among U.S. boys’ names in 1979, and ranked 9,802 in 2020.

Habib

Origin: ArabicMeaning: Loved oneAlternative Spellings & Variations: Habbib, HabeebFamous Namesakes: Habib Frédéric Beye is a French former professional footballer.Peak Popularity: Habib is a popular North African choice, particularly in Tunisia and Syria. The name Habib peaked at No. 2,751 in the U.S. in 1982.

Hafez

Origin: Arabic, PersianMeaning: ProtectorAlternative Spellings & Variations: HafizFamous Namesakes: Hafez (Khwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi) was a 14th-century Persian poet and mystic.Peak Popularity: Hafiz peaked at No. 6,692 among U.S. boys’ names in 1984.

Hassan

Origin: ArabicMeaning: HandsomeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hasan, HassenFamous Namesakes: Hassan Niam Whiteside is an American basketball player, most recently playing for the Sacramento Kings.Peak Popularity: Hassan is among the more familiar Arabic choices, and also one with an attractive meaning. It has appeared in the U.S. Top 1,000 every year since 1971. It ranked No. 817 in the U.S. in 2020.

Jafar

Origin: Arabic, Iranian, HindiMeaning: StreamAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jaffar, Jafer, Jaffer, JafurFamous Namesakes: Jafar Khan Zand was an 18th-century Persian king.Peak Popularity: Jafar peaked in popularity at No. 2,368 in 1994.

Jalil

Origin: Arabic, PersianMeaning: ReveredAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jalal, Jaleel, JahleelFamous Namesakes: Jalil Brown is an American football coach and former professional player.Peak Popularity: Jalil peaked in popularity in 1987 ranking No. 1,202. In 2020, the name was at No. 2,177.

Jasper

Origin: PersianMeaning: Bringer of treasureFamous Namesakes: Former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky, named their son Jasper in 2019.Peak Popularity: Jasper ranked No. 138 in 2020.

Karim

Origin: ArabicMeaning: NobleFamous Namesakes: Karim Abdel Aziz is an Egyptian actor.Peak Popularity: In 1977, Karim peaked at No. 858 in the U.S., and was at No. 1,002 in 2020.

Kayvan

Origin: PersianMeaning: Saturn (the planet)Alternative Spellings & Variations: KeyvanFamous Namesakes: Kayvan Najarian is an Iranian-American professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics.Peak Popularity: Kayvan peaked at No. 5,211 in 1987.

Majid

Origin: ArabicMeaning: IllustriousFamous Namesakes: Majid Al Maskati is a Canadian singer, originally from Bahrain.Peak Popularity: This evocative Arabic name peaked at No. 3,043 in 1980, and was at No. 4,059 in 2020.

Masoud

Origin: ArabicMeaning: LuckyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Massoud, Massoude, Massudeh, Masood, Masʽud, MasudFamous Namesakes: Masud Jani was a 13th Century CE governor of Bengal.Peak Popularity: Masud ranked at No. 4,680 in 2018, and was at No. 5,552 in 2020.

Nariman

Origin: PersianMeaning: Faith and brightnessAlternative Spellings & Variations: Nairemanah Famous Namesakes: Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology, is an Iranian-American engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.Peak Popularity: The Social Security Administration has no record of any newborns named Nariman. (Don’t let this deter you!)

Nasim

Origin: ArabicMeaning: Fresh airAlternative Spellings & Variations: NaseemFamous Namesakes: Nasim Amrohvi (1908-1987), was a renowned Urdu poet.Peak Popularity: In 2000, Naseem peaked at No. 1,307 and Nasim peaked at No. 2,606.

Sami

Origin: ArabicMeaning: Elevated, sublimeAlternative Spellings & Variations: SammyFamous Namesakes: Sami Yusuf is a British singer and musician, born in Iran but of Azerbaijani heritage.Peak Popularity: In 2017, Sami peaked at number 1,111 in the U.S., and was ranked at 1,319 in 2020.

Shamil

Origin: PersianMeaning: The North WindAlternative Spellings & Variations: ShameelFamous Namesakes: Shamil Shetekauri is a Georgian botanist and a professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.Peak Popularity: In 1996, Shamil was ranked 6,404.

Shayan

Origin: PersianMeaning: WorthyFamous Namesakes: Shayan Modarres is an attorney and civil rights activist.Peak Popularity: In 2020, Shayan ranked No. 1,763 in the United States.

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