11 Beautiful Iranian Names And What They Mean

Iranian names can roughly be divided into three main categories: Islamic, Shahnameh and other. Conservative families may opt for an Islamic name while others who want to show pride in their Persian history may choose something from the Shahnameh. Others still choose beautiful Persian words or maybe a name from their ethnicity. Here are some of the most beautiful Iranian names and their meanings.

Alborz, male

Write it like this: البرز
Alborz is a male name that means ‘the highest one’. It’s also the name of the mountain range that stretches from the Azerbaijan border and goes along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea all the way to the Khorasan province. Iran’s highest peak, Mount Damavand, is located in this range.

Tiam, male or female

Maneli, female

Pronounce it like this: mâ-ne-lee
Write it like this: مانلی

Kaveh, male

Pronounce it like this: kâ-veh
Write it like this: کاوه
Kaveh (known more commonly in Persian as ‘Kaveh the Blacksmith’) is a mythical hero in Ferdowsi’s epic poem, Shahnameh. In the story, the evil tyrant Zahhak had two serpents growing out of his shoulders. These snakes had an insatiable lust for human brains, so every day, Zahhak’s minions executed two men to feed them. After Kaveh lost all but one of his sons to this barbaric ritual, he led a national uprising against the merciless ruler, which resulted in an end to one thousand years of tyranny. He is a symbol of bravery against cruelty.

Janan, female

Pronounce it like this: jâ-nân
Write it like this: جانان

Avin, female

Pronounce it like this: â-veen
Write it like this: آوین

Pantea, female

Pronounce it like this: pân-teh-â
Write it like this: پانته آ
In Persian folklore, Pantea was reputed to be the most beautiful woman in Asia, so much so that she had to keep her face covered to prevent men from falling in love with her. Her husband, Abradatas, was the king of Susa who fought against Cyrus the Great. She was captured by Cyrus’ army and brought to the king to serve as his possession. But Cyrus knew she was married, and having heard of her beauty, refused to look at her, fearing that he, too, may fall in love. Because Pantea was treated honourably, she persuaded Abradatas to fight on the side of the Persians, which he did, but he was later killed in battle. When Cyrus broke the news to Pantea, she was devastated and committed suicide, after which Cyrus buried her next to her husband.

Pantea – the most beautiful woman in Asia

Kavan, male

Pronounce it like this: kâ-vân
Write it like this: کاوان
The name Kavan is of Kurdish ethnicity.

Rozhan, female

Pronounce it like this: rowzh-ân
Write it like this: روژان
Rozhan is also a Kurdish name.

Bardia, male

Pronounce it like this: bar-dee-yâ
Write it like this: بردیا

Radin, male

Pronounce it like this: râ-deen
Write it like this: رادین

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.