Prior to 1979, the country now known as Iran was once called Persia. When you think of Persia, you can’t help but reminisce about its colorful history filled with empires, battles, and impressive innovation. Persia was the first country to have refrigerators and air conditioners, long before electricity was invented. They set the standards for society’s expectations of women. Women were allowed to own land and run their own businesses. In Persian culture, honesty is revered, and telling a lie is one of the worst things a person can do. And While Persians’ history dates back to ancient times and their first use of last names was in 1919. Before then, a bunch of different prefixes and suffixes were added to a person’s given name (and you just hoped no one else had that unique combination). They used names to reflect a long and storied history (one of the world’s oldest civilizations!). Similar to many other ethnicities, Persian last names frequently reference a family‘s location or place of origin. Given that family is the central focus of Iranians, this makes sense.
Today, the Persians make up more than half of Iran’s population. They have their own culture and language. But given the geographic extent of the Persian Empire — spanning from Egypt in the west to Turkey in the north, and through Mesopotamia to the Indus River in the east — it’s not unusual for their modern last names to borrow from Greek, Kurdish, and Azerbaijani-Turkish. Another reason to gravitate toward Persian names? Iranians are well-known for their hospitality. They are friendly and polite and strive to keep that reputation. So, a Persian last name is weighted with many positive associations. Persian last names, like Persian culture, are a point of pride and honor for Iranians.
If you’re interested in the last names of other countries and exploring their meanings, check out our package on last names from around the world! Spanish, Mexican and Brazilian last names.
Want to know more about these family name? Here are 65+ popular Persian last names, including their meanings and origins.
- Abbas Transcription: عبّاس Meaning: Austere Origin: Arabic
- Afsoun Transcription: افسون Meaning: Charm, spell Origin: Persian
- Agha Transcription: اغا Meaning: Chief, master, or lord; respectable title for an honorable military officer Origin: Turkish
- Ahmad Transcription: احمد Meaning: Most praiseworthy Origin: Arabic
- Akbar Transcription: اکبر Meaning: Greater, greatest Origin: Arabic
- Alborz Transcription: البرز Meaning: From the name of a mountain range in northern Iran Origin: Persian
- Ali Transcription: علی Meaning: Lofty, sublime Origin: Arabic
- Amani Transcription: أماني. Meaning: Aspirations, wishes, desire or goal Origin: Persian
- Ansari Transcription: أنصاري Meaning: Supporter Origin: Iranian
- Azad Transcription: آزاد Meaning: Free Origin: Persian
- Azimi Transcription: عظیمی Meaning: Glorious or magnificent Origin: Persian
- Babak Transcription: Meaning: Beloved father Origin: Persian
- Bahman Transcription: بابک Meaning: Good mind Origin: Persian
- Baran Transcription: باران Meaning: Rain Origin: Persian
- Bayat Transcription: بايات, Meaning: A strong man or warrior Origin: Turkey
- Behnam Transcription: بايات Meaning: Distinguished or a respected title. Origin: Persian
- Darya Transcription: دریا Meaning: Sea, ocean Origin: Persian
- Delara Transcription: دلآرا Meaning: Adorning the heart Origin: Persian
- Elaheh Transcription: الهه Meaning: Goddess Origin: Persian
- Farid Transcription: فرید Meaning: Unique, precious Origin: Arabic
- Farrokh Transcription: فرّخ Meaning: Happy, auspicious Origin: Persian
- Farzaneh Transcription: فرزانه Meaning: Wise, intelligent Origin: Persian
- Fereshteh Transcription: فرشته Meaning: Angel Origin: Persian
- Firouzeh Transcription: فیروزه Meaning: The gemstone turquoise Origin: Persian
- Ghoncheh Transcription: غنچه Meaning: Flower bud Origin: Persian
- Gohar Transcription: گوهر Meaning: Jewel, gemstone Origin: Persian, Armenian, Urdu
- Golbahar Transcription: گلبهار Meaning: Spring rose Origin: Persian
- Golshan Transcription: گلشن Meaning: Rose garden Origin: Persian
- Golzar Transcription: گلزار Meaning: Rosy-cheeked Origin: Persian
- Gul Transcription: جعل Meaning: Rose, pink Origin: Turkey
- Habib Transcription: حبیب Meaning: Beloved, darling Origin: Arabic, Persian, Urdu
- Hadi Transcription: هادی Meaning: Leader, guide Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Hassan Transcription: حسن Meaning: Beautifier; pious, wise Origin: Arabic
- Hayat Transcription: حیات Meaning: Life Origin: Arabic
- Heydari Transcription: حیدری Meaning: Lion; brave, courageous Origin: Arabic
- Iman Transcription: ایمان Meaning: Faith Origin: Arabic, Persian, Indonesian
- Isa Transcription: عیسى Meaning: Arabic form of Jesus Origin: Arabic, Persian, Albanian
- Jafar Transcription: جعفر Meaning: Stream Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Jahan Transcription: جهان Meaning: World Origin: Persian
- Jahangir Transcription: جهانگی Meaning: World conqueror Origin: Persian, Urdu
- Jalal Transcription: جلال Meaning: Greatness Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Jalil Transcription: جلیل Meaning: Important, exalted Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Jamshid Transcription: جمشید Meaning: Shining Jam (a mythological king of Persia) Origin: Persian, Uzbek, Persian mythology
- Javed Transcription: جواد Meaning: Eternal Origin: Persian
- Karim Transcription: کریم Meaning: Generous, noble Origin: Arabic, Persian
- Khan Transcription: بايات, Meaning: Leader or ruler; a title of respect for a soldier, or an honorable military man, or soldier Origin: Arabic
- Khani Transcription: خاني Meaning: Hidden Origin: Arabi
- Mahdi Transcription: مهدي Meaning: Common title that means “the one who is rightly guided by God” Origin: Arabic
- Mahin Transcription: مهین Meaning: Of the moon Origin: Persian
- Moradi Transcription: مرادی Meaning: Wishful Origin: Persian
- Mozhdeh Transcription: مژده Meaning: Good news Origin: Persian
- Roshan Transcription: روشن Meaning: Light, bright Origin: Persian
- Saade Transcription: سلطانی Meaning: Lucky Origin: Arabic
- Saam Transcription: صام Meaning: Seed Origin: German
- Saar Transcription: سار Meaning: Island Origin: Persian
- Saatchi Transcription: ساعتچی Meaning: Watchmaker Origin: Persian, Turkish
- Sadeghi Transcription: صادقی Meaning: Honest Origin: Persian, Iranian
- Safavi Transcription: صفوی Meaning: Safi Origin: Persian
- Shabani Transcription: شعبانی Meaning: Lucky charm Origin: Arabic
- Shafaei Transcription: شفاعی Meaning: Healer Origin: Persian
- Shahin Transcription: شاهین Meaning: Falcon, peregrine Origin: Persian
- Shahzad Transcription: شهزاد Meaning: Son of the king Origin: Persian
- Sharifi Transcription: روشن Meaning: Honorable, high-class, wealthy Origin: Persian
- Soltani Transcription: سلطانی Meaning: Descendant of the sultan Origin: Arabic
- Taj Transcription: تاج Meaning: Crown; jewel Origin: Persian, Sanskrit, and Arabic
- Taha Transcription: طه Meaning: Best; pure; skilful Origin: Arabic
- Taib Transcription: طه Meaning: One who always repents to God; virtuous, pious Origin: Hindu
- Taif Transcription: الطائف Meaning: Vision; specter; someone who performs Origin: Arabic
- Taghi Transcription: طاغي Meaning: A chief Origin: Arabic
- Taher Transcription: طاهر Meaning: Pure; chaste; clean Origin: Arabic
- Taieb Transcription: نام Meaning: Kind; sweet; to repent Origin: Arabic
- Talat Transcription: طلعت Meaning: Prayer; countenance Origin: Arabic
- Vida Transcription: ویدا Meaning: Visible, apparent, prominent Origin: Persian
FAQ:
Q1. What is the structure of Persian last names?
A1. Persian last names typically consist of a personal name, a family name, and a suffix indicating a relationship or profession.
Q2. What are some common Persian last names?
A2. Some common Persian last names include Ahmadi, Hosseini, Kazemi, and Mirzaei.
Q3. What is the significance of the suffix in Persian last names?
A3. The suffix in Persian last names indicates a person’s relationship to their father, grandfather, or profession.
Q4. Do married women in Iran commonly change their last names?
A4. No, it is not customary for married women in Iran to change their last names. They retain their maiden name throughout their life.
Q5. How are Persian last names pronounced?
A5. Persian last names are pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable. For example, the name Hosseini is pronounced: “huh-say-nee.”
