Persian Names from the Shahnameh — 40 Epic Names with Meaning & Farsi Script

The Shahnameh (شاهنامه — Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi is the greatest epic in Persian literature — 60,000 couplets telling the mythological and historical story of Iran from creation to the Arab conquest. Written in the 10th century, it preserved the Persian language and cultural identity through centuries of change. Its characters have named generations of Iranians ever since.

If you want a Persian name with depth, story, and cultural resonance — the Shahnameh is the place to look. Every name below comes directly from this epic, with its character's role, the meaning of the name in Old Persian or Avestan, and full Farsi script.

Also explore: All Persian Names · Persian Girl Names · Persian Boy Names

Kings & Rulers of the Shahnameh — شاهان

Name	فارسی	Pronunciation	Meaning & Shahnameh role
Jamshid	جمشید	Jam-shid	Shining Jam — mythological king of the golden age; established Nowruz; fell from grace through pride. His cup (Jame Jam) shows the whole world
Fereydoon	فریدون	Fe-rey-dun	Thrice blessed — the just king who defeated Zahhak with Kaveh's uprising; symbol of liberation and justice
Kay Khosrow	کیخسرو	Kay-khos-row	Famous king — the wisest and most righteous king of the Kayanian dynasty; avenged his father Siavash
Lohrasp	لهراسپ	Loh-rāsp	Swift horse — Kayanian king who converted to Zoroastrianism; father of Goshtasp; a rare and ancient name
Goshtasp	گشتاسپ	Gosh-tāsp	He who has tamed horses — Kayanian king who accepted the Zoroastrian faith from the prophet Zarathustra
Manuchehr	منوچهر	Ma-nu-chehr	Of celestial face / face of Manu — mythological king descended from Fereydoon; his reign saw Zal and Rostam rise to greatness
Iraj	ایرج	I-raj	Son of Iran — the youngest and most beloved son of Fereydoon; killed by his brothers; his death became a symbol of innocent martyrdom
Nozar	نوذر	No-zar	New gold / new treasure — son of Manuchehr; a rare Shahnameh name seldom found outside Iran

Heroes & Warriors — پهلوانان

Name	فارسی	Pronunciation	Meaning & Shahnameh role
Rostam	رستم	Ros-tam	Mighty / bold — Iran's greatest hero; fought for seven kings across 500 years; killed his own son Sohrab without knowing; the Persian Hercules
Sohrab	سهراب	Soh-rāb	Red water / bright water — son of Rostam; the most tragic figure of the Shahnameh; killed by his own father in the most heartbreaking episode of the epic
Siavash	سیاوش	Si-yā-vash	Owner of black horses — prince who rode through fire to prove his innocence; falsely accused and martyred; his death launched a war
Bijan	بیژن	Bi-zhan	Hero / son of Giv — imprisoned in the pit of Akvan Div by the enemy king; rescued by Rostam in one of the greatest adventures of the epic
Zal	زال	Zāl	Albino / ancient — born with white hair; abandoned by his father and raised by the Simorgh bird; became the wisest of all heroes and father of Rostam
Giv	گیو	Giv	One who exalts — loyal hero who spent seven years searching for Kay Khosrow; the embodiment of unwavering devotion
Tus	طوس	Tus	Commander of the Iranian army — proud and hot-tempered general; rivalry with Giv forms one of the Shahnameh's great subplots
Fariboz	فریبرز	Fa-ri-borz	Exalted glory — son of Kay Kavus and claimant to the throne before Kay Khosrow; noble and brave
Bahram	بهرام	Bah-rām	Victorious — from Avestan Verethragna; appears in both the Shahnameh and as a Sasanian royal name; the planet Mars in Persian astronomy
Ashkbus	اشکبوس	Ash-ku-bus	Enemy champion slain by Rostam on foot using only a bow — his defeat is one of the most celebrated episodes; a rare and striking name

Women of the Shahnameh — زنان شاهنامه

The Shahnameh contains some of the most powerful female characters in all of Persian literature — warriors, queens, mothers, and heroines who shape the course of the epic.

Name	فارسی	Pronunciation	Meaning & Shahnameh role
Gordafarid	گردآفرید	Gord-ā-fa-rid	Hero-born — the female warrior who disguised herself as a man to face Sohrab, using strategy to protect her people when brute force was impossible
Tahmineh	تهمینه	Tah-mi-neh	Strong / valiant — princess who sought out Rostam herself to be her husband; mother of the tragic Sohrab; independent and fierce
Manijeh	منیژه	Ma-ni-jeh	Princess of Afrasiab who fell in love with Bijan and risked everything for him — stripped of her status, she fed him in the pit daily; loyalty and sacrifice
Rudabeh	رودابه	Ru-dā-beh	Daughter of water / like running water — mother of Rostam; one of the most beautiful women in the Shahnameh; married Zal despite family opposition
Sudabeh	سودابه	Su-dā-beh	Beautiful / beneficial — queen who falsely accused Siavash; one of the Shahnameh's great antagonists; her name is rarely chosen for its character
Farangis	فرنگیس	Fa-ran-gis	Turanian princess who became the wife of Siavash; mother of Kay Khosrow; her grief at Siavash's death is one of the epic's most moving passages

Mythical & Legendary Names

Name	فارسی	Pronunciation	Meaning & mythological role
Kaveh	کاوه	Kā-veh	The legendary blacksmith — raised his apron as the first Iranian banner (Derafsh Kaviani); led the people's revolt against the tyrant Zahhak; symbol of justice
Arash	آرش	Ā-rash	Brightness / clarity — the archer-hero who shot a single arrow from Mount Damavand; it flew from dawn to dusk to define Iran's borders; he died in the effort
Sam	سام	Sām	Dark / black — grandfather of Rostam; one of the great champions of Iran; abandoned Zal at birth before accepting him back
Simorgh	سیمرغ	Si-morgh	Thirty birds / mythical bird — the wise supernatural bird who raised Zal; used rarely as a name but deeply significant; associated with wisdom and divine knowledge
Garshasp	گرشاسپ	Gar-shāsp	Wielder of the rough spear — the great hero of the mythical age who slew dragons and sea monsters; appears in both the Shahnameh and the Avesta
Hushang	هوشنگ	Hush-ang	Good mind / good dwelling — one of the first mythological kings; discovered fire by striking stones; established laws; celebrated with the festival of Sadeh
Tahmuras	طهمورث	Tah-mu-ras	Strong as a boar — mythological king called "the binder of demons"; learned writing from the demons he captured; rare and ancient name
Pashang	پشنگ	Pa-shang	Father of Afrasiab — an extremely rare Shahnameh name; for families who want a name of deep cultural uniqueness

How to Choose a Shahnameh Name

When choosing a name from the Shahnameh, consider the character's story as much as the name's meaning. A name carries the story of the person who bore it.

For a child of strength and heroism: Rostam, Arash, Kaveh, Siavash, Bijan

For a child of wisdom and leadership: Fereydoon, Kay Khosrow, Zal, Manuchehr, Hushang

For a daughter of courage and independence: Gordafarid, Tahmineh, Rudabeh, Manijeh

For a unique name rarely found outside Iran: Garshasp, Pashang, Tahmuras, Nozar, Giv

Learn Farsi & the Shahnameh with Danaa School

At Danaa School, we offer Persian literature courses specifically covering the Shahnameh — reading the stories in original Farsi, understanding the characters, and connecting with the cultural heritage behind every name. Whether you are a heritage learner, a student, or a parent who wants your child to know the story behind their name, our native tutors work 1-on-1 at your pace.

Related: All Persian Names · Persian Girl Names · Persian Boy Names