65+ Popular Persian Last Names With Meanings And Origins

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 had refrigerators and air conditioners before electricity was even invented. They were also leading when it came to societal expectations for women, who were allowed to own land, run businesses, and enlist in the army. In Persian culture, honesty is revered, and telling a lie is one of the worst things a person can do. And while their history goes back to ancient times, Persians only began using last names 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. This makes sense considering family is a central focus for Iranians.

Today, Persians are an ethnic group that accounts for more than half the population of Iran, with their own language and distinct culture. 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? Iranian people are known for their hospitality. They are welcoming and polite, and they strive to maintain that perception. 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, Brazilian, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and African last names.

Ready to learn more about these family names? Here are 65+ popular Persian last names, including their meanings and origins.

1. Abbas

Transcription: عبّاس Meaning: Austere Origin: Arabic

1. Afsoun

Transcription: افسون Meaning: Charm, spell Origin: Persian

1. Agha

Transcription: اغا Meaning: Chief, master, or lord; respectable title for an honorable military officer Origin: Turkish

1. Ahmad

Transcription: احمد Meaning: Most praiseworthy Origin: Arabic

1. Akbar

Transcription: اکبر Meaning: Greater, greatest Origin: Arabic

1. Alborz

Transcription: البرز Meaning: From the name of a mountain range in northern Iran Origin: Persian

1. Ali

Transcription: علی Meaning: Lofty, sublime Origin: Arabic

1. Amani

Transcription: أماني. Meaning: Aspirations, wishes, desire or goal Origin: Persian

1. Ansari

Transcription: أنصاري Meaning: Supporter Origin: Iranian

1. Azad

Transcription: آزاد Meaning: Free Origin: Persian

1. Azimi

Transcription: عظیمی Meaning: Glorious or magnificent Origin: Persian

1. Babak

Transcription: Meaning: Beloved father Origin: Persian

1. Bahman

Transcription: بابک Meaning: Good mind Origin: Persian

1. Baran

Transcription: باران Meaning: Rain Origin: Persian

1. Bayat

Transcription: بايات, Meaning: A strong man or warrior Origin: Turkey

1. Behnam

Transcription: بايات Meaning: Distinguished or a respected title. Origin: Persian

1. Darya

Transcription: دریا Meaning: Sea, ocean Origin: Persian

1. Delara

Transcription: دلآرا Meaning: Adorning the heart Origin: Persian

1. Elaheh

Transcription: الهه Meaning: Goddess Origin: Persian

1. Farid

Transcription: فرید Meaning: Unique, precious Origin: Arabic

1. Farrokh

Transcription: فرّخ Meaning: Happy, auspicious Origin: Persian

1. Farzaneh

Transcription: فرزانه Meaning: Wise, intelligent Origin: Persian

1. Fereshteh

Transcription: فرشته Meaning: Angel Origin: Persian

1. Firouzeh

Transcription: فیروزه Meaning: The gemstone turquoise Origin: Persian

1. Ghoncheh

Transcription: غنچه Meaning: Flower bud Origin: Persian

1. Gohar

Transcription: گوهر Meaning: Jewel, gemstone Origin: Persian, Armenian, Urdu

1. Golbahar

Transcription: گلبهار Meaning: Spring rose Origin: Persian

1. Golshan

Transcription: گلشن Meaning: Rose garden Origin: Persian

1. Golzar

Transcription: گلزار Meaning: Rosy-cheeked Origin: Persian

1. Gul

Transcription: جعل Meaning: Rose, pink Origin: Turkey

1. Habib

Transcription: حبیب Meaning: Beloved, darling Origin: Arabic, Persian, Urdu

1. Hadi

Transcription: هادی Meaning: Leader, guide Origin: Arabic, Persian

1. Hassan

Transcription: حسن Meaning: Beautifier; pious, wise Origin: Arabic

1. Hayat

Transcription: حیات Meaning: Life Origin: Arabic

1. Heydari

Transcription: حیدری Meaning: Lion; brave, courageous Origin: Arabic

1. Iman

Transcription: ایمان Meaning: Faith Origin: Arabic, Persian, Indonesian

1. Isa

Transcription: عیسى Meaning: Arabic form of Jesus Origin: Arabic, Persian, Albanian

1. Jafar

Transcription: جعفر Meaning: Stream Origin: Arabic, Persian

1. Jahan

Transcription: جهان Meaning: World Origin: Persian

1. Jahangir

Transcription: جهانگی Meaning: World conqueror Origin: Persian, Urdu

1. Jalal

Transcription: جلال Meaning: Greatness Origin: Arabic, Persian

1. Jalil

Transcription: جلیل Meaning: Important, exalted Origin: Arabic, Persian

1. Jamshid

Transcription: جمشید Meaning: Shining Jam (a mythological king of Persia) Origin: Persian, Uzbek, Persian mythology

1. Javed

Transcription: جواد Meaning: Eternal Origin: Persian

1. Karim

Transcription: کریم Meaning: Generous, noble Origin: Arabic, Persian

1. Khan

Transcription: بايات, Meaning: Leader or ruler; a title of respect for a soldier, or an honorable military man, or soldier Origin: Arabic

1. Khani

Transcription: خاني Meaning: Hidden Origin: Arabi

1. Mahdi

Transcription: مهدي‎ Meaning: Common title that means “the one who is rightly guided by God” Origin: Arabic

1. Mahin

Transcription: مهین Meaning: Of the moon Origin: Persian

1. Moradi

Transcription: مرادی Meaning: Wishful Origin: Persian

1. Mozhdeh

Transcription: مژده Meaning: Good news Origin: Persian

1. Roshan

Transcription: روشن Meaning: Light, bright Origin: Persian

1. Saade

Transcription: سلطانی‎ Meaning: Lucky Origin: Arabic

1. Saam

Transcription: صام Meaning: Seed Origin: German

1. Saar

Transcription: سار Meaning: Island Origin: Persian

1. Saatchi

Transcription: ساعتچی‎ Meaning: Watchmaker Origin: Persian, Turkish

1. Sadeghi

Transcription: صادقی‎‎ Meaning: Honest Origin: Persian, Iranian

1. Safavi

Transcription: صفوی‎ Meaning: Safi Origin: Persian

1. Shabani

Transcription: شعبانی‎ Meaning: Lucky charm Origin: Arabic

1. Shafaei

Transcription: شفاعی Meaning: Healer Origin: Persian

1. Shahin

Transcription: شاهین Meaning: Falcon, peregrine Origin: Persian

1. Shahzad

Transcription: شهزاد‎ Meaning: Son of the king Origin: Persian

1. Sharifi

Transcription: روشن Meaning: Honorable, high-class, wealthy Origin: Persian

1. Soltani

Transcription: سلطانی‎ Meaning: Descendant of the sultan Origin: Arabic

1. Taj

Transcription: تاج Meaning: Crown; jewel Origin: Persian, Sanskrit, and Arabic

1. Taha

Transcription: طه Meaning: Best; pure; skilful Origin: Arabic

1. Taib

Transcription: طه Meaning: One who always repents to God; virtuous, pious Origin: Hindu

1. Taif

Transcription: الطائف Meaning: Vision; specter; someone who performs Origin: Arabic

1. Taghi

Transcription: طاغي Meaning: A chief Origin: Arabic

1. Taher

Transcription: طاهر Meaning: Pure; chaste; clean Origin: Arabic

1. Taieb

Transcription: نام Meaning: Kind; sweet; to repent Origin: Arabic

1. Talat

Transcription: طلعت‎ Meaning: Prayer; countenance Origin: Arabic

1. Vida

Transcription: ویدا Meaning: Visible, apparent, prominent Origin: Persian