Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Roshan
BoyPersian· “light, bright”
- Meaning
- light, bright
- Origin
- Persian
- Pronunciation
- roh-SHAHN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,738
- US babies 2025
- 30
- Best rank
- #1,793 (2001)
- Peak year
- 2010
Meaning and origin of Roshan
Roshan is a Persian name that means “light, bright”.
Roshan is a Persian name meaning light, bright or shining. It is used in Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, among Muslims, Hindus, Parsis and others. The word also exists in Hindi and Urdu, where roshan means illuminated or bright. Roxana, the wife of Alexander the Great, bore a name usually traced to the same Old Persian root, which shows how old the idea is. It is said roh-SHAHN. The feminine counterpart is Roshni. Rohan sounds close but comes from a different Sanskrit word.
Popularity over time
Roshan first appears in US Social Security records in 1974. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,793 in 2001, and the most babies received it in 2010, when 64 were named Roshan. In 2025, 30 babies were named Roshan, and it ranked #3,738 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,515 in 1980, #1,915 in 2000, #2,115 in 2010, and #3,738 in 2025. Of the 1,788 US boys named Roshan since records began, 32% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 450 babies. Since 2010, 641 more have been named Roshan.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Ezekial, Calin, Dakarai, Treston, and Patryk.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Roshan ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1956 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Roshan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Roshan is usually pronounced roh-SHAHN, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with R and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Roshan
A few middle names that flow with Roshan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Roshan
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Lists that include Roshan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roshan mean?
Roshan is a Persian name that means “light, bright”.
What is the origin of the name Roshan?
Roshan has Persian roots. Roshan is a Persian name meaning light, bright or shining.
Is Roshan a popular name?
Not especially. Roshan ranked #3,738 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Roshan a boy or girl name?
Roshan is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Roshan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Roshan?
Roshan is usually pronounced roh-SHAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings