Updated November 2023
Across 4 pages
of 4
Diminutive of Esther, Persian
"star"
Este -- think Esme with a t -- comes to us via one of the rocking sisters in the musical group Haim. For long best known as the Esther diminutive used by cosmetics queen Estee Lauder, Este is a…
Persian
"immaculate"
Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls. Anahita was derived from the Old…
"lovely"
This Persian name with an Old Testament pedigree has a warm Sasha-like feel. The Biblical Vashti was a queen who refused her husband's orders to appear naked in front of his party guests and so was…
"good news"
Attractive Middle Eastern choice.
English from Persian
"jasmine"
Jessamine, a charming name occasionally heard in England, is just beginning to be appreciated in the U.S. as a possible successor to all the Jess names of the past. It's also spelled Jessamyn, as in…
Persian place name
Now deeply associated with the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, Lazuli is derived from one of the places where the stone was first mined. The word Lazuli is the root for words like azure. Lapis Lazuli is a…
Sophi is a feminine name functioning as a modern, streamlined variation of Sophia, which derives from Greek roots meaning 'wisdom.' This shortened form maintains the elegant essence of the original…
Sophy is a charming feminine name with deep historical roots, functioning as a diminutive of Sophia, which means "wisdom" in Greek. This shorter variant has appeared throughout European history,…
"sacred"
Anyone who remembers the classic novel or film "The Prisoner of Zenda" would find this an odd choice.
Turkic, Mongol
"iron"
Although Tamerlaine, especially with the addition of an i, feels more feminine than masculine these days and is occasionally used for girls, the original Tamerlane was a fierce Mongol warrior.
"lote tree, sidr tree"
Also appearing as Sidra, this botanical name has roots in Persian, and holds multiple levels of spiritual significance. It refers to the Ziziphus spina-christi , a spikey, evergreen plant, also known…
"cute"
Cute in Persian, verboten here.
Daric is a masculine name with ancient Persian origins. It derives from the Old Persian name 'Dārayavahush' (Darius), meaning 'he who holds firm the good.' Historically, the 'daric' was also a gold…
"kind, lovable, sunny"
English speakers might want to pronounce this lovely name like the familiar Mary or Merry, but the correct Persian pronunciation includes the h -- meh-ree.
"lucky, happy"
Parvaiz would certainly stand out in an American classroom.
Persian literary name
When comedian David Atkins adopted this Arabian Nights-type name, it became almost feasible, but could lead to tough times in the schoolyard.
"azure blue stone"
Out-of-the-ordinary gemstone name derived from lapis lazuli, which is said to enhance awareness and intellect, impart ancient wisdom and cure many ailments, making it an interesting possibility for a…
"flower"
This name was given a lithe and graceful image by ballerina Gelsey Kirkland, but was later far surpassed by Kelsey and Chelsea.
Fatemeh is a feminine name of Arabic and Persian origin, representing the most common transliteration of Fatimah in Iran and among Persian speakers. It honors Fatimah al-Zahra, the daughter of…