Persian Boy Names
Persian boy names draw on a remarkable range of history: the Achaemenid kings who ruled from Persepolis, the Zoroastrian calendar, the heroes of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, and the Arabic names that became part of Iranian life after Islam arrived. The result is a naming tradition where a boy might be called Kourosh after Cyrus the Great, Rostam after the epic’s greatest champion, or simply Omid, “hope”.
Here are 110+ Persian names for boys with their meanings, grouped by source and style, including short names that travel well in English. For girls, see our Persian girl names; for the wider tradition, start at our Persian names hub. Many shared names also appear in Muslim boy names.
Popular Persian boy names in Iran today
Iran’s birth registry shows a steady mix of religious names and pure Persian names. Compound names like Amirali and Amirhossein are especially popular.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad | “Praised”; the Prophet’s name | Arabic |
| Ali | “Exalted, noble” | Arabic |
| Hossein | “Good, handsome one”; honors Imam Hossein | Arabic |
| Amirali | “Commander Ali” | Arabic compound |
| Amirhossein | “Commander Hossein” | Arabic compound |
| Abolfazl | “Father of virtue”; title of Abbas ibn Ali | Arabic |
| Mahdi | “The guided one” | Arabic |
| Taha | Opening letters of the 20th sura of the Quran | Arabic |
| Yasin | Opening letters of the 36th sura | Arabic |
| Arian | “Noble, Aryan” | Persian |
| Artin | “Righteous, pure”, from Old Persian arta | Persian |
| Radin | Possibly “generous, chivalrous” | Persian |
| Barsam | Sacred twigs held in Zoroastrian ritual | Persian |
| Kian | “Kings”; the legendary Kayanian dynasty | Persian |
| Parsa | “Pious, devout” | Persian |
Ancient Persian names of kings and dynasties
These names belonged to rulers of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires. They feel grand and historic — ideal if you love names that mean king.
| Name | Historical figure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Kourosh | Cyrus the Great | Possibly “sun”; meaning debated |
| Dariush | Darius the Great | “Holding firm the good” |
| Khashayar | Xerxes I | “Ruler over heroes” |
| Ardeshir | Ardashir I, founder of the Sasanian Empire | “Whose rule is through truth” |
| Bardia | Brother of Cambyses II | Possibly “exalted” |
| Bahram | Sasanian kings; the god Verethragna | “Victorious, smiter of resistance” |
| Kasra | Arabic form of Khosrow, the Sasanian king | “Of good fame” |
| Sasan | Ancestor of the Sasanian dynasty | Meaning uncertain |
| Ashkan | Arsaces, founder of the Parthian dynasty | Possibly “hero” |
| Mehrdad | Mithradates | “Given by Mithra” |
| Shapour | Shapur I and II | “Son of the king” |
| Hormoz | Hormizd, several Sasanian kings | From Ahura Mazda, “wise lord” |
| Pirouz | Peroz I | “Victorious” |
| Anoushiravan | Khosrow I, remembered as “the Just” | “Immortal soul” |
| Sourena | Surena, the Parthian general who defeated Crassus | Possibly “heroic” |
Heroes of the Shahnameh
Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (Book of Kings) is Iran’s national epic, and its warriors have been namesakes for a thousand years.
| Name | Role in the epic | Why parents choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Rostam | Iran’s supreme champion, rider of the horse Rakhsh | Strength and loyalty |
| Sohrab | Rostam’s son, killed unknowingly by his father | A poignant, poetic classic |
| Siavash | Innocent prince who passed through fire unharmed | Purity and honor |
| Zal | Hero raised by the mythical Simurgh | Unusual and short |
| Kaveh | Blacksmith who raised his apron as a banner of revolt | Courage against tyranny |
| Fereydoun | King who defeated the serpent-shouldered Zahhak | Justice |
| Jamshid | King of the golden age, owner of a magic cup | Glory and light |
| Esfandiar | Nearly invincible prince, rival of Rostam | Bravery |
| Bijan | Warrior rescued from a pit for love of Manijeh | Romance |
| Iraj | Youngest son of Fereydoun, ruler of Iran | Gentle and noble |
| Garshasp | Dragon-slaying hero | A rare, heroic choice |
| Giv | Loyal paladin who searched seven years for Kay Khosrow | Faithfulness |
| Keykhosrow | Idealized righteous king | Wisdom |
| Manouchehr | King who avenged Iraj; “from the face of Manu” | Classic royal feel |
| Sam | Hero and grandfather of Rostam | Short and cross-cultural |
| Siamak | Son of the first king, Kayumars | Distinctive, easy to say |
Persian boy names inspired by nature and the sky
Several of these are also Zoroastrian month names still used in the Iranian calendar. For more, see nature boy names and names that mean sky.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sepehr | “Sky, heavens” | Modern favorite |
| Keyvan | “Saturn” | Planet name |
| Bamdad | “Dawn, daybreak” | Poetic |
| Shahin | “Royal falcon” | Also a surname |
| Shahab | “Shooting star” | Arabic origin |
| Tondar | “Thunder” | Bold and rare |
| Toufan | “Storm” | Strong sound |
| Kouhyar | “Friend of the mountain” | kuh + yar |
| Aban | “Waters” | 8th month of the Iranian calendar |
| Azar | “Fire” | 9th month; fire is sacred in Zoroastrianism |
| Bahman | “Good mind” | 11th month, from Vohu Manah |
| Mehr | “Sun; kindness; covenant” | 7th month, linked to Mithra |
| Khorshid | “Sun” | Also used for girls |
| Arash | Legendary archer whose arrow set Iran’s border | Associated with Tirgan festival |
Persian boy names with meaningful virtues
Pure Persian names built on words like beh (good) and far (glory) express the qualities parents hope for.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Omid | “Hope” | Persian |
| Navid | “Good news, glad tidings” | Persian |
| Payam | “Message” | Persian |
| Behnam | “Of good name, reputable” | Persian |
| Behrouz | “Having good days, fortunate” | Persian |
| Roozbeh | “Fortunate, of good day” | Persian |
| Houman | “Benevolent, good-natured” | Persian |
| Shayan | “Worthy, deserving” | Persian |
| Kamran | “Successful, prosperous” | Persian |
| Farzad | “Of glorious birth” | Persian |
| Farshid | “Glorious light” | Persian |
| Pouya | “Seeker, dynamic” | Persian |
| Peyman | “Promise, covenant” | Persian |
| Kamyar | “Successful, fortunate friend” | Persian |
| Babak | “Little father” | Persian |
| Arman | “Ideal, wish” | Persian |
| Farhad | Legendary sculptor who carved Mount Bisotun for love of Shirin | Persian |
| Parviz | “Victorious, fortunate” | Persian |
| Behzad | “Of noble birth” | Persian |
Arabic-origin boy names common in Iran
These names have been used in Iran for over a thousand years and are Persian in pronunciation and feel. Many appear in our Arabic boy names too.
| Name | Meaning | Persian pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Reza | “Contentment” | reh-ZAH |
| Hamid | “Praiseworthy” | hah-MEED |
| Majid | “Glorious” | mah-JEED |
| Saeed | “Happy, fortunate” | sah-EED |
| Masoud | “Lucky, fortunate” | mahs-OOD |
| Mahmoud | “Praised” | mah-MOOD |
| Hadi | “Guide” | hah-DEE |
| Javad | “Generous” | jah-VAHD |
| Mostafa | “The chosen one” | mos-tah-FAH |
| Morteza | “Approved, chosen”; title of Imam Ali | mor-teh-ZAH |
| Mojtaba | “Chosen” | moj-tah-BAH |
| Iman | “Faith” | ee-MAHN |
| Nader | “Rare, precious” | nah-DER |
| Jalal | “Majesty” | jah-LAHL |
| Kazem | “One who restrains anger” | kah-ZEM |
| Sajjad | “One who prostrates in prayer” | sah-JAHD |
| Amin | “Trustworthy” | ah-MEEN |
| Ehsan | “Benevolence, charity” | eh-SAHN |
| Hassan | “Good, handsome” | hah-SAHN |
| Amir | “Prince, commander” | ah-MEER |
Short Persian boy names that work in English
Living outside Iran? These names are easy to say, hard to misspell and still unmistakably Persian. Compare with our short baby names.
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Aria | “Noble” | AH-ree-ah |
| Sina | After the scholar Ibn Sina (Avicenna) | see-NAH |
| Dara | Short form of Darius, “holder of good” | dah-RAH |
| Kia | “King, ruler” | KEE-ah |
| Aram | “Calm, peaceful” | ah-RAHM |
| Nima | Possibly “just, fair”; after poet Nima Yushij | nee-MAH |
| Saman | Namesake of the Samanid dynasty’s founder | sah-MAHN |
| Ramin | “Joyful”; hero of the romance Vis and Ramin | rah-MEEN |
| Aras | The Aras river on Iran’s northern border | ah-RAHS |
| Borna | “Young, strong” | bor-NAH |
| Mani | Founder of the Manichaean religion | mah-NEE |
| Kiarash | “King Arash” | kee-ah-RASH |
Tips for choosing a Persian boy name
- Stress the last syllable. Persian usually stresses the end of a name (ah-RASH, kee-YAN); tell teachers early so it sticks.
- Pick a spelling and stay with it. Dariush, Daryoush and Dariosh are all the same name; the simplest spelling saves years of corrections.
- Think about the story. Sohrab and Siavash are beloved but tragic heroes; Rostam and Kaveh carry victory and courage.
- Blend two names. Iranian families often combine names (Amirali, Kiarash, Mohammadreza) — a lovely way to honor two grandfathers.
- Check the meaning in both languages. A few Persian words look like English ones; say the name aloud with English-speaking friends before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Persian boy name?
In Iran, Mohammad, Ali, Amirali, Amirhossein and Hossein have long led the birth registry. Among Iranian families abroad, Kian, Aria, Arman and Darius (Dariush) are especially popular.
What is a strong Persian name for a boy?
Rostam, Kourosh, Bahram (“victorious”), Arash, Kaveh and Khashayar (“ruler over heroes”) all carry a sense of strength and heroism.
What does Kian mean in Persian?
Kian means “kings” and refers to the Kayanian dynasty of Persian legend. It is short, easy to pronounce and popular with Iranian families worldwide.
Is Darius a Persian name?
Yes. Darius is the Greek and Latin form of the Old Persian Dārayavauš, “holding firm the good”. In Persian it is Dariush.
What are Zoroastrian boy names?
Names such as Bahman, Bahram, Hormoz, Mehrdad, Ardeshir, Farhad and Jamshid come from Zoroastrian and pre-Islamic Iranian tradition and are still used by Zoroastrian and secular families.