Rayvan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rayvan has been for the last 7 years (from 1997 to 2003) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rayvan

A masculine Persian name meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".

Popularity of Rayvan by gender

Based on the last 7 years of data, Rayvan is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2003, there were 8 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rayvan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2003 0 8
2001 0 5
1997 0 5

The history of the first name Rayvan

The given name Rayvan has its origins in the ancient Persian language, tracing back to the 6th century BC during the Achaemenid era of the Persian Empire. It is derived from the Persian words "ray" meaning radiant or luminous, and "van" signifying soul or spirit. Thus, the name Rayvan can be interpreted to mean "radiant soul" or "luminous spirit."

This name gained prominence in the region of modern-day Iran and parts of Central Asia, where it was commonly bestowed upon male children. In the Zoroastrian faith, which was predominant in ancient Persia, the name held spiritual significance, symbolizing the divine light and purity of the soul.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rayvan can be found in the ancient Zoroastrian scripture, the Avesta, where it is mentioned as the name of a revered figure. Additionally, historical records from the Sassanid Empire (224-651 AD) indicate the existence of several prominent individuals bearing the name Rayvan, including a notable scholar and philosopher.

Throughout history, the name Rayvan has been carried by several influential figures, such as:

  1. Rayvan al-Masri (c. 815-885 AD), an influential Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad.
  2. Rayvan Khan (c. 1350-1407), a celebrated military commander and governor during the Timurid Empire.
  3. Rayvan Shirazi (c. 1570-1640), a renowned Persian poet and mystic from the Safavid era.
  4. Rayvan Beg (c. 1680-1758), a prominent statesman and diplomat in the Ottoman Empire.
  5. Rayvan Ferdowsi (c. 1820-1892), a revered Iranian scholar and linguist known for his contributions to Persian literature.

The name Rayvan has transcended cultural boundaries and has been adopted in various forms across different regions, such as Ravan, Raiwan, and Rayvon. While its prevalence may have fluctuated over the centuries, the name continues to evoke a sense of radiance and spirituality, reminiscent of its ancient Persian roots.

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 Rayvan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Rayvan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rayvan-meaning-and-history/.

"Rayvan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rayvan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 1 September, 2025

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

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