Persian (Pahlavi) names belong to the Persian (Pahlavi) language tradition. This collection contains 19 Persian (Pahlavi) names with their meanings, cultural backgrounds, and pronunciation guides. You'll find 19 names traditionally given to boys and 0 names for girls, reflecting naming patterns from regions where Persian (Pahlavi) is spoken. These names carry the linguistic heritage and cultural values of Persian (Pahlavi)-speaking communities. Common themes include brave, divine, noble, showing what Persian (Pahlavi) cultures have valued across generations.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Persian (Pahlavi) “darwīš,” which means “beggar, the one who goes from door to door.” 1) Derviş Mehmed Pasha (1569–1606) was an Ottoman statesman that served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire briefly between 21 June 1606–9 December 1606. 2) Derviş Ali was an Ottoman calligrapher.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Persian (Pahlavi) “darwīš,” which means “beggar, the one who goes from door to door.” 1) Derviş Mehmed Pasha (1569–1606) was an Ottoman statesman that served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire briefly between 21 June 1606–9 December 1606. 2) Derviş Ali was an Ottoman calligrapher.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Persian (Pahlavi) “darwīš,” which means “beggar, the one who goes from door to door.” 1) Derviş Mehmed Pasha (1569–1606) was an Ottoman statesman that served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire briefly between 21 June 1606–9 December 1606. 2) Derviş Ali was an Ottoman calligrapher.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Narsês (Ναρσή),” from Middle Persian “Narseh” (Middle Persian: Nar ‘male, masculine’), which in turn derives from the Avestan “*narya-saha-,” meaning “the heroic announcement, the divine messenger.” 1) Nairyosangha was the god of fire and messenger between gods and men in Persian mythology. He is associated with Atar in the Avesta. 2) Narseh was the seventh Sasanian king of Ērānshahr (293–302). He was the son of Shapur I (240–270). During the rule of his father Shapur I, Narseh had served as the governor of Sakastan, Sindh, and Turan. Before becoming King of Persia, he held the title Great King of Armenia. 3) Nerses I the Great was an Armenian Catholicos (or Patriarch) who lived in the fourth century. 4) Nerses III, the Builder was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 641 and 661. He was originally from the village of Ishkhan in Tayk.
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Persian (Pahlavi) names developed within the Persian (Pahlavi) language tradition. The naming traditions from regions where Persian (Pahlavi) is spoken have evolved over centuries, shaped by migration, trade, religion, and cultural exchange. Today's Persian (Pahlavi) names carry this history.
Persian (Pahlavi) naming traditions reflect the values and beliefs of regions where Persian (Pahlavi) is spoken. Names served multiple purposes: identifying individuals, honoring ancestors, expressing hopes for a child's future, and marking religious or cultural affiliation. These functions shaped which names became popular and how they were used.
Today, Persian (Pahlavi) names appear far beyond regions where Persian (Pahlavi) is spoken. Immigration, global media, and cultural exchange have made many Persian (Pahlavi) names familiar worldwide. Parents choose these names to honor heritage, appreciate their meanings, or simply because they like how they sound. The 19 names in this collection range from ancient choices still popular today to names that have fallen out of use but retain historical interest.
Persian (Pahlavi) naming traditions have developed their own patterns and preferences. Names may honor family members, reflect religious beliefs, describe hoped-for qualities, or commemorate significant events. These patterns explain which names stayed popular.
These traditional patterns still matter, but modern parents also mix things up. Some combine traditional and contemporary elements, pick names from other cultures, or create unique variations of classic names.
This collection breaks down to 100% masculine names (19) and 0% feminine names (0).
Persian (Pahlavi) names follow the phonetic rules of their language of origin. English speakers may need to adjust their pronunciation for sounds that don't exist in English. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide to help.
When in doubt about pronunciation, listening to native speakers helps more than reading transliterations. Each name page has a pronunciation guide. If you're considering a Persian (Pahlavi) name for your child, say it out loud and think about how others in your community will pronounce it.
The 19 Persian (Pahlavi) names in this collection offer choices ranging from familiar options to rare discoveries. Each carries cultural meaning from regions where Persian (Pahlavi) is spoken.
Persian (Pahlavi) names for boys outnumber those for girls at roughly N/A:1 in our database. This reflects historical naming patterns, though modern naming trends are shifting.
Current naming trends show renewed interest in heritage names, with parents seeking meaningful connections to cultural roots. Some Persian (Pahlavi) names have crossed over to mainstream use, while others remain specific to Persian (Pahlavi)-speaking communities.
Popular Persian (Pahlavi) names for boys include Narsē, Nerse, Nerses, Nerseh, Narzes. Our database contains 19 Persian (Pahlavi) names traditionally given to boys, ranging from classic choices to unique options.
Our collection includes 0 Persian (Pahlavi) names for girls. Popular choices blend traditional sounds with meaningful origins. Use the feminine tab to explore options organized by popularity.
Persian (Pahlavi) names carry meanings from the Persian (Pahlavi) language tradition. Common themes in Persian (Pahlavi) names include brave, divine, noble. Each name in our database includes its specific meaning and cultural context.
Persian (Pahlavi) names follow the phonetic rules of their language. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide. When uncertain, listening to native speakers provides the most accurate reference.
This database contains 19 Persian (Pahlavi) names: 19 for boys and 0 for girls. This represents documented names that have been used historically or are in current use. The actual number of Persian (Pahlavi) names ever used is certainly higher.
Spelling difficulty depends on the specific name and your familiarity with Persian (Pahlavi) phonetics. Some Persian (Pahlavi) names have been adapted to English spelling conventions, making them straightforward. Others retain original spellings that may be unfamiliar. Consider how important easy spelling is to you when choosing a name.