Arshaan
A masculine name of Persian origin meaning "noble", "courageous", or "chivalrous".
Name Census estimates that about 104 living Americans carry the first name Arshaan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Arshaan today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Arshaan births was 2013 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Arshaan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Arshaan with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
104
~ 1 in 3,295,715 Americans
Peak year
2013
11 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,959
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Arshaan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Arshaan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 63 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Arshaan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arshaan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Arshaan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Arshaan
The name Arshaan has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back several centuries. It is derived from the ancient Persian word "Arsha," which means "righteous" or "virtuous." The name is closely associated with the Zoroastrian religion and its sacred texts, the Avesta, where it is mentioned as a name of spiritual significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arshaan can be traced back to the 6th century CE, when it was borne by a prominent Zoroastrian priest and scholar, Arshaan of Nishapur. He was renowned for his contributions to the study and interpretation of the Avestan texts and is believed to have played a significant role in preserving the Zoroastrian religious traditions during a period of turmoil and persecution.
In the 9th century, another notable figure named Arshaan emerged, this time in the field of astronomy and mathematics. Arshaan al-Battani, also known as Albatenius, was a renowned astronomer and mathematician from the Abbasid Caliphate. His work on the calculation of the solar year and the motion of the planets was highly influential and earned him recognition throughout the Islamic world.
During the medieval period, the name Arshaan gained prominence in various Persian dynasties and kingdoms. One such figure was Arshaan Khan, a military commander and nobleman who served under the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. He was known for his bravery and strategic acumen in battles against rival factions.
In the 13th century, the name Arshaan was borne by a celebrated Sufi poet and mystic, Arshaan al-Din Simnani. His poetic works, infused with spiritual wisdom and devotion, were widely read and admired in the Persian-speaking regions of the time.
Another notable figure with the name Arshaan was Arshaan Arghun, a governor and military leader from the Ilkhanid dynasty of Persia in the late 13th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Ilkhanid Empire, leading successful military campaigns and effectively governing various territories under his rule.
The name Arshaan has a rich and diverse history, spanning centuries and encompassing various fields, from religion and scholarship to astronomy, military leadership, and literature. Its enduring presence throughout the ages is a testament to its significance and the profound impact of the individuals who have borne this name.
People
Arshaan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Arshaan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Arshaan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Arshaan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 104 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Arshaan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,295,715 US residents.
Is Arshaan a common name?
We classify Arshaan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 105 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Arshaan most popular?
The single biggest year for Arshaan was 2013, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Arshaan is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Arshaan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Arshaan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Arshaan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Arshaan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Arshaan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Arshaan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Arshaan?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.