Dastan
A Persian name derived from the word "dastan" meaning story or tale.
Name Census estimates that about 322 living Americans carry the first name Dastan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Dastan today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dastan births was 2011 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dastan. 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.
People living today
322
~ 1 in 1,064,454 Americans
Peak year
2011
61 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,953
Tracked since 2010
Popularity
Dastan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dastan from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 260 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dastan 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 Dastan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dastans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Dastan
The name Dastan originates from the Persian language and has its roots in the ancient Iranian culture. It is believed to be derived from the Old Persian word "dāstān," meaning "story" or "legend." This connection suggests that the name carries a sense of storytelling and narrative tradition.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dastan can be traced back to the 6th century CE, during the Sassanid Empire in ancient Persia. It was a common name among the nobility and aristocracy, often bestowed upon sons of prominent families. The name's association with stories and legends may have been seen as a symbolic representation of the child's potential to create a legacy of their own.
In the 11th century, the name Dastan appeared in the epic Persian poem "Shahnameh" by the renowned poet Ferdowsi. The poem, which recounts the history of Persian kings and heroes, features a character named Dastan, further solidifying the name's place in Persian literature and folklore.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Dastan was Dastan ibn Tazi (born circa 720 CE), a renowned Muslim scholar and jurist from Khurasan, a region in modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. His contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and legal studies earned him recognition throughout the Islamic world.
Another notable figure was Dastan Misri (born circa 1050 CE), an Egyptian poet and philosopher known for his introspective and mystical writings. His works explored themes of spiritual enlightenment and the human experience, reflecting the poetic undertones of his name.
In the 13th century, Dastan Terghan (born circa 1210 CE) was a prominent Mongol military leader and governor who served under Genghis Khan and his successors. His name stands as a testament to the name's reach beyond Persia and its adoption by other cultures influenced by Persian traditions.
During the 16th century, Dastan Mirza (born circa 1510 CE) was a Persian prince and military commander from the Safavid dynasty. He played a significant role in various military campaigns and is remembered for his bravery and strategic acumen on the battlefield.
Lastly, Dastan Khan (born circa 1650 CE) was a prominent Mughal nobleman and military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. His name is etched in the annals of Mughal history for his military prowess and unwavering loyalty to the empire.
People
Dastan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dastan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dastan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dastan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 322 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dastan 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 1,064,454 US residents.
Is Dastan a common name?
We classify Dastan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 324 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dastan most popular?
The single biggest year for Dastan was 2011, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dastan is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Dastan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dastan 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.
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.