Afshan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Afshan has been for the last 20 years (from 1978 to 1997) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Afshan

A Persian name meaning "the act of spreading or scattering".

Popularity of Afshan by gender

Based on the last 20 years of data, Afshan is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1997, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Afshan.

Year Male Count Female Count
1997 0 5
1993 0 5
1990 0 7
1987 0 6
1986 0 5
1983 0 8
1978 0 5

The history of the first name Afshan

The name Afshan is of Persian origin and is derived from the Persian word "afshandân," which means "to scatter" or "to sprinkle." The name is closely associated with the Persian culture and has been in use for centuries.

In Persian literature, the name Afshan is often used as a metaphor for the scattering of petals or the beauty of nature. It is believed that the name was first used during the reign of the Sassanid Empire, which ruled over ancient Persia from the 3rd to the 7th century AD.

The earliest recorded use of the name Afshan can be found in the famous Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In the epic, there is a character named Afshan, who is described as a beautiful and graceful woman.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Afshan was Afshan Khanum, a 16th-century Persian princess and the daughter of Shah Tahmasp I. She was known for her beauty, intelligence, and patronage of the arts.

Another notable person with the name Afshan was Afshan Qizilbash, a 17th-century Persian noblewoman and the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. She played a significant role in the cultural and architectural development of the Mughal Empire.

In the field of literature, Afshan Anjum was a prominent 20th-century Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan. She was born in 1918 and is renowned for her contributions to Urdu poetry and prose.

Afshan Bokhari, born in 1947, is a renowned Pakistani artist and painter. She is known for her unique style of abstract expressionism and has received numerous awards and accolades for her work.

In the realm of music, Afshan Ara Zilli was a celebrated Pakistani classical singer and composer. Born in 1922, she was awarded the Pride of Performance by the Pakistani government for her contributions to the field of music.

The name Afshan continues to be a popular choice for girls in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with Persian cultural influences. Its elegant and poetic meaning has made it a beloved name across generations.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Afshan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afshan, please contact us.

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"Afshan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/afshan-meaning-and-history/.

"Afshan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/afshan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 May, 2025

Afshan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/afshan-meaning-and-history/.

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