A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Farhad since 1972
Babies named Farhad per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1990, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Farhad's real moment was 1981.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 37 |
| 1980s | 87 |
| 1990s | 72 |
| 2000s | 35 |
| 2010s | 25 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Meaning & origin
Farhad is a Persian name with a storied literary heritage, most famously associated with the tragic hero of Nizami's 12th-century romance 'Khosrow and Shirin.' In the United States, Farhad first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1972 and reached its peak popularity in 1981. As of 2025, it ranks 12,008, a modest but persistent presence reflecting the Iranian diaspora. The name has been on a rising trajectory since 2020, suggesting renewed interest. Its use remains concentrated within Persian-speaking communities, though its accessibility and strong syllabic structure give it cross-cultural potential.
Farhad derives from Middle Persian, composed of 'far' meaning 'glory, splendor' and 'had' meaning 'endowed with, having.' It is most famously associated with Farhad, the tragic stonecutter in the Persian romance 'Khosrow and Shirin,' a story that has been retold by poets such as Nizami Ganjavi (12th century). The name has been common across Iran, Afghanistan, and neighboring regions for centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Farhaad, Farhad
Sibling names for Farhad
Names that share Farhad's style, for a brother or sister.
