Farshad
A Persian masculine given name meaning "shining, splendid, glorious."
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Farshad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Farshad today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Farshad births was 1985 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Farshad. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Farshad. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
1985
6 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
1990 SSA rank
#7,467
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Farshad: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Farshad from the 1980s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Farshad remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Farshad 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 Farshad 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 Farshad
The given name Farshad has its origins in the Persian language and culture. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient Persian era, dating back to the 6th century BCE or earlier. The name is a combination of two Persian words, "far" meaning "glory" or "splendor," and "shad" meaning "joy" or "happiness."
This name was likely first used to describe individuals who embodied qualities of radiance, nobility, and joyfulness. It may have been associated with the concept of a glorious and joyous ruler or individual of high status in ancient Persian society.
While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in ancient Persian texts or religious scriptures, its linguistic roots and structure suggest a deep-rooted connection to the Persian culture and language.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Farshad was a Persian poet and philosopher who lived in the 9th century CE. His full name was Farshad ibn Qudama, and he was known for his contributions to the literary and intellectual circles of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Another notable figure with this name was Farshad Mirza, a 16th-century Persian prince from the Safavid dynasty. He was the son of Shah Tahmasp I and played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the Safavid Empire.
In the 18th century, Farshad Khan was a prominent military leader and governor in the Mughal Empire. He served under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and was known for his military campaigns and administrative skills.
During the 19th century, Farshad was the name of a renowned Persian calligrapher and artist. His full name was Mirza Farshad Naqqash, and he was celebrated for his mastery of the intricate Persian calligraphic styles and his artistic contributions.
In more recent history, Farshad Noor was an Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996. He played a crucial role in the country's international relations during a turbulent period.
The name Farshad continues to be a popular choice in Persian and Afghan communities, carrying the essence of its historical and cultural significance. It serves as a reminder of the rich literary, artistic, and intellectual traditions of the Persian civilization.
People
Farshad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Farshad as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Farshad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Farshad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Farshad 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 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Farshad a common name?
We classify Farshad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 17 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Farshad most popular?
The single biggest year for Farshad was 1985, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Farshad is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Farshad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Farshad 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.