Persian Baby Names

Persian culture has produced some of the world's most admired poetry, and its names carry that lyrical quality. Farsi, spoken in Iran and in related forms in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, has lent words and names to Arabic, Turkish, Urdu and English over many centuries. Several familiar English names turn out to have Persian roots once you follow them back far enough.

For boys, the list includes names of famous rulers. Cyrus and Darius were kings of the ancient Achaemenid Empire, and both names still feel dignified and historic. Amir is widely used across the Middle East and South Asia, and Kian is connected to an old Persian word associated with kings. Jasper is usually traced to a Persian word for treasurer, carried into Europe through the tradition of the three wise men.

For girls, Jasmine and its many spellings come from the Persian name of the flower, and Laila and Leila recall the heroine of a beloved love story. Esther is often linked to a Persian word for star. When choosing, consider how the name sounds in both English and Persian, and decide early which spelling your family prefers, since this group has more variants than most.