Kurdish Girl Names

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Achan	An area northwest of Diyarbakir in North Kurdistan.	4
Ada	A Hawrami word meaning "mother"; also translates to "great" or "the giver."	4
Adan	A fertile and fruitful land.	4
Adar / Adara	Derived from "Adarok," a flower blooming in early spring; the month of March in Assyrian.	4
Adema	A mountain situated in the Kurdish region of Armenia.	4
Adika	A resort located in the Dersim region of North Kurdistan.	4
Aferin	Lucky or trustworthy; also translates to praise or "to create."	6
Agirîn / Agrine / Agrîn	Fiery; burning; derived from the root for fire.	9
Ahang / Aheng	Gatherings for celebrations, parties, and dances; harmony.	4
Ahin / Ahîn	Ascetic; unshakeable; whole.	6
Ajda / Ajîn / Ajna / Ajwan	Identified as Kurmanji feminine names; root implies sprouting or driving forward.	7
Ala / Alla	Flag or banner.	4
Alal / Alê / Alik / Alîn / Alûs / Alva	Kurdish feminine identifiers; often associated with colorfulness or blooming.	7
Aman / Amanc / Amed	Aim / Target (Amanc); Amed refers to the historical Kurdish name for Diyarbakir.	9
Amez / Amraz	Hug or embrace (Amez); tool or means (Amraz).	9
Ara / Aran / Aranak / Aranan	Aranak is a mountain in Bingol; Aranan is a village near Sna.	4
Araz / Arazoo / Arezu	Araz refers to Mount Araz; Arazoo/Arezu means wish or desire.	8
Arda / Ardil / Areen / Arêz / Arî / Arîman / Arîn / Ariya / Ariyan	Identifiers denoting strength, fire, or Aryan/Median heritage.	9
Arhat / Arjen / Artîn	Flame (Artîn); historical Kurdish identifiers of strength.	9
Asan / Ase / Asê / Asa / Asha	A variation of Asa, meaning doctor; Asha means the pure one.	7
Ashti / Aştî / Aştîxwaz	Peace; peace-seeker.	9
Aska / Askê	Deer or Gazelle.	9
Asmin	Sky; a type of wildflower.	6
Aso / Asos / Asus / Aşna / Aşvan	Horizon (Aso); historical regions and identifiers.	9
Astan / Asteng	Identified as classical Kurdish feminine names.	9
Avan / Avbin / Avbîn / Avdar / Avdel	Water-related elements; spring-bringer (Avdar).	9
Aveen / Avîn / Evîn	Love.	9
Avesta / Avêste	The sacred texts of the Zoroastrian religion.	9
Avreng / Avşîn / Avyar / Avzêl / Avzen / Avzer	Identifiers linked to water (Av), rivers, and vitality.	9
Awar / Aware / Awat / Awaz	Hope (Awat); Voice, call, or melody (Awaz).	8
Awing / Awîng / Awira	Dewdrop (Awîng); prevalent feminine names.	7
Axîn / Axînk	Sigh or sorrow.	9
Aza / Azade / Azadî	Brave (Aza); Free (Azade); Freedom (Azadî).	9
Azîn / Azrîn / Azû	Accessories or jewelry (Azîn); feminine identifiers.	8
Babouna	Chamomile flower; grows in early spring with white petals and a yellow center.	4
Bada / Bade	Associated with Bate, a village between Duhok and Zawita.	4
Bafrin / Befrîn / Befraw / Befrî	White as snow; similar to snow; snow-water.	4
Bahar / Behar / Bohar / Bihar	Spring; the season following winter.	4
Bahast	Alert, awake, or aware.	4
Bahoz	Tornado or storm.	9
Bahya	A mountain located in Kurdistan.	4
Bajîlan / Balnexşîn	Decorated or adorned (Balnexşîn).	9
Bakhan	Plural of "garden"; a village near Mariwan on Mount Garan.	4
Balen / Belên	Covenant, passion, or promise.	4
Banê / Bano	Lady.	6
Banoura	An ancient name dating back to the Sassanid period.	4
Barana / Baran / Barav / Barêz / Barîn	Rain; the title of many folk songs (Baran).	4
Barzan / Barûve	Barzan is a tribal/regional name.	9
Bawan / Baweşen / Baweşîn	Ancestral home or roots (Bawan).	9
Bazê / Baziyan / Bazîn	Falcon-related identifiers or bracelets (Bazîn).	9
Bedar / Bêdar	Awake / vigilant.	9
Bedew / Bedewcan	Beautiful; beautiful soul.	11
Begî / Begîxan	Noble lady (suffix -xan denotes nobility).	9
Behêz	Powerful.	9
Bejîn / Bêjîn / Bejna / Bejnê	Figure, height, or stature (Bejn).	11
Belalûk / Belar / Belîban / Belîcan / Belqis	Cherry species (Belalûk); historical names.	9
Bêlîm / Bêmal	Homeless or wanderer (Bêmal).	9
Benav / Benaw / Bênaw	Nameless.	9
Bênaz	Without coquetry/spoiling.	9
Bendan / Benden / Bendewa / Bendewan	Mountain paths or waiting.	11
Benewş / Binefş / Binevş	Violet flower.	9
Bengîn / Berafîn / Berav / Beraw / Berbang / Berçem	Dawn (Berbang); by the river (Berçem).	9
Berbijîn / Berdar / Berevan	Fruitful (Berdar); defender (Berevan).	9
Berdil / Berem / Berfende	Beloved, held to the heart (Berdil).	9
Berhem	Work; creation.	6
Berî / Bêrî / Berîcan / Bêrîcan / Berîn / Bêrîn	Related to the process of milking animals in the mountains.	9
Berivan / Bêrîvan / Bêrîwan / Berîxan	A woman who milks sheep/goats; "flower of the mountain."	9
Berken / Berma / Bermal / Bermalî	Smiling (Berken); housewife (Bermal).	9
Bersîn / Berwar / Berzê / Besê / Besna	High/exalted (Berzê); enough (Besê - often used to stop having daughters).	9
Bestin / Betîn / Bêwîjan / Bewran	Warm (Betîn).	9
Bêxal / Bexşan / Bexşîn	Bêxal refers to a famous waterfall; to give/forgive (Bexşîn).	9
Beyan / Beyani	Morning.	9
Beybîn / Beybûn / Beysos / Bezma	Chamomile flower (Beybûn).	9
Bêzar	Annoyed / tired.	9
Beza / Bezîn / Bezav	Prevalent feminine identifiers.	7
Bihin	Breath / smell.	7
Biheşt / Bijarde / Bijew / Bijîn / Bijwên / Bijya	Paradise (Biheşt); chosen (Bijarde); to live (Bijîn).	9
Bilêse / Bilind	Flame (Bilêse); high or tall (Bilind).	9
Bînahî / Binar / Binav	Sight/light (Bînahî); foothills (Binar).	9
Birca / Birûsk / Birwa / Biryar	Belief (Birwa); Lightning (Birûsk); Decision (Biryar).	7
Bîşeng / Bişkoj / Bişkuj / Bişkurîn	Bud of a flower (Bişkoj); smiling (Bişkurîn).	9
Biwar / Biyan / Blîmet / Boran / Bûken	Genius (Blîmet); foreigner (Biyan).	9
Can / Canan / Canê	Soul / Beloved.	9
Cawîdan / Celal	Eternal (Cawîdan); the shining one (Celal, unisex).	9
Cerê / Cewê / Cewher	Jewel/Essence (Cewher).	9
Cîhan / Ciran / Cîran / Ciya / Comerd	Universe/World (Cîhan); Neighbor (Cîran); Generous (Comerd).	9
Ciwanê / Ciwangul / Ciwanî / Ciwannaz / Ciwanrû / Ciwana / Ciwancan	Variations of "beautiful" (Ciwanî = beauty); beautiful flower (Ciwangul).	9
Çakîn / Çavgeş / Çavreş / Çavşîn / Çawcuwan / Çawgeş / Çawrê / Çawreş	Descriptive traits focusing on eyes: Bright eyes (Çavgeş), Black eyes (Çavreş), Blue eyes (Çavşîn).	9
Çêker / Çeko / Çeleng	Creator/Maker (Çêker); beautiful/handsome (Çeleng).	9
Çeman / Çemê / Çengzêr / Çerîn / Çilo	River/Stream (Çeman/Çemê).	9
Çîmen / Çinar / Çinûr / Çirîsk / Çiro / Çirûsk / Çistê	Meadow (Çîmen); Sycamore (Çinar); Sprout (Çiro); Spark (Çirûsk).	9
Çiya / Çiyako / Çoman / Çopî / Çorîn / Çûçê / Çuwan	Mountain (Çiya); Kurdish line dance (Çopî); beautiful (Çuwan).	9

Geospatial Onomastics: Topography as Resistance

In cultures untouched by systemic displacement, naming a child after a local river, village, or mountain may simply reflect an aesthetic appreciation of the surrounding environment. In Kurdish naming conventions, however, geospatial onomastics operate as an aggressive act of political preservation and memory-making. The history of Kurdistan is heavily marked by the systematic renaming of Kurdish geography by governing states. For example, the Turkish state systematically altered the names of Kurdish villages like Tanas and monumental geographic markers like Mount Ararat (renamed Aghridagh) in an attempt to assimilate the landscape and erase its indigenous history.⁵

In direct response to this geographic erasure, Kurdish families create a cultural imperative to safeguard topography within the domestic sphere. By bestowing names like Dêrsim (a historic, fiercely independent Kurdish province now officially named Tunceli in Turkey), Raniya (a prominent city in South Kurdistan), Medya (the ancestral Land of the Medes), and Zewka or Rafina (villages explicitly noted to have been destroyed by Baathist military campaigns), the Kurdish community ensures that erased or contested borders remain verbally mapped and actively spoken.⁵

The female body, in this context, acts as an indestructible repository for the homeland. This anthropological phenomenon demonstrates how linguistic survival actively subverts geographical erasure. A daughter named Achan (an area northwest of Diyarbakir) or Adema (a mountain in the Kurdish region of Armenia) carries the spatial heritage of her ancestors wherever she goes, rendering the physical destruction or renaming of the land culturally ineffective.⁴

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Daban / Dalaho / Damaw / Dangar	Dangar refers to a historical source; names associated with Kurdish topography.	9
Danya / Danyar / Dara / Darçîn / Darîn / Darwn	Cinnamon (Darçîn); possessing/wealthy (Dara).	9
Daria / Darya / Daristan / Dashne / Dastan	Sea/Ocean (Darya); Forest (Daristan); Epic story (Dastan).	9
Daxaz / Dixaz / Dene / Dejin / Delal	Request/demand (Daxaz); Beloved/precious (Delal).	9
Demgul / Dengîn / Derav / Derin	Resonant/echoing (Dengîn); Derav refers to a geographical location.	9
Derman / Dêrsim / Dersima / Derzîn	Cure/medicine (Derman); Dêrsim is a historic Kurdish province (modern Tunceli).	7
Desmal / Dever / Devken / Dewken	Handkerchief (Desmal); Smiling mouth (Devken/Dewken).	9
Dia / Dîana / Diblin / Dicle	The Tigris River (Dicle); classical feminine names.	7
Dîdar / Dihok	Sight/meeting (Dîdar); Dihok is a major city in South Kurdistan.	11
Dila / Dilan / Dîlan	Heart (Dila); Kurdish folk dance (Dîlan).	7
Dilar / Dilara / Dilaram / Dilare / Dilawaz	Peaceful heart (Dilaram); embellishing the heart (Dilara).	9
Dilba / Dilbaz / Dilber / Dîlber / Dilcan	Heart-stealer (Dilber); soul of the heart (Dilcan).	9
Dildar / Dilê / Dilgerm / Dilgir / Dilîn / Dilistan	Lover (Dildar); Warm-hearted (Dilgerm); land of the heart (Dilistan).	9
Dilkanî / Dîlman / Dilmest / Dilnaz / Dilnîgar	Heart of the spring (Dilkanî); coquettish heart (Dilnaz).	9
Dilniya / Dilocan / Dilok / Dilorîn / Dilovan	Assured/confident (Dilniya); Compassionate (Dilovan).	9
Dilpak / Dilron / Dilsoz / Dilşa / Dilşên	Pure heart (Dilpak); Loyal (Dilsoz); Happy heart (Dilşa).	9
Dilvan / Dilvîn / Dilxoş / Dilxwaz / Dilxweş	Heart's love (Dilvîn); Happy heart (Dilxoş/Dilxweş).	9
Dîmen / Dindik / Dirê / Dîristan / Dîroka	Scenery (Dîmen); History (Dîroka).	9
Dîwan / Diyana / Diyar / Diyarî / Diyara / Doman	Gift (Diyarî); Apparent/Visible (Diyara/Diyar).	9
Edgar / Efsan / Elegez / Elfesya / Elind / Elmas	Diamond (Elmas); prevalent feminine names.	7
Enwa / Erdelan / Erdem / Ernewaz / Erzen / Erzo	Erdelan refers to the historic Ardalan principality.	9
Esma / Esmê / Esmer / Esmercan / Esmerxan / Esmîxan	Brown/dark-skinned beauty (Esmer/Esmerxan).	9
Esrîn / Estê / Estêre / Estêr	Tear (Esrîn); Star (Estêre).	9
Etûn / Evser / Ewaz / Ewîn / Ewrîn / Exter	Identifiers associated with nature and the sky.	9
Eyşan / Ezcan / Ezîn / Ezma / Ezo	Kurdish feminine identifiers.	9
Felek / Fener / Fênik / Feraşîn	Fate/wheel of fortune (Felek); Lantern (Fener); Cool breeze (Fênik).	9
Ferman / Ferzê / Ferzîne / Fîdan	Order/decree (Ferman); Sapling (Fîdan).	9
Fîlya / Fîrya / Firyal / Firmêsk	Tear (Firmêsk).	9

The Avestan, Zoroastrian, and Mythological Substrata

Despite the passage of millennia, the sweeping religious transitions across the Middle East, and the dominant influence of Islamic naming conventions in surrounding Arab, Turkish, and Persian cultures, female Kurdish nomenclature acts as an enduring archive of pre-Islamic, Median, and Zoroastrian cosmologies. A striking preponderance of names is linguistically tied to ancient Avestan concepts of light, fire, and divine beings.⁵ For example, the name Mana directly translates to "Lord" in the Avesta and simultaneously memorializes the Mannaites, an ancient Kurdish tribe from the first millennium BC that established one of the region's first unified states against the Assyrians.²⁰

Furthermore, the persistent naming of daughters after fire and light—such as Agirîn (fiery), Nari or Narin (derived from "Nayr," an ancient Gathic word for fire), Artîn (flame), and Tîroj (sunlight)—underscores an intense cultural reverence for illumination that predates the modern era.⁹ In a condition of statelessness and political darkness, naming a daughter after fire represents a refusal to be extinguished. Names like Zabar carry this historical continuity explicitly, referencing the daughter of Ziak, whose name is carved into the ancient inscription of the Ka'ba of Zoroaster.⁵

The mythology of the Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) also profoundly influences Kurdish female naming. Figures of immense beauty, tragedy, and political power—such as Shirin, Sudabeh, and Shahrnāz—are continuously recycled into the modern Kurdish naming pool, connecting a marginalized modern population directly to the epic royalty of their ancient past.²¹ The survival of words like Pardis (an ancient Medi-Avestan word for paradise) demonstrates that the mythological past remains vibrantly alive and meticulously curated in the domestic sphere of Kurdish families.²²

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Galawezh / Galawej / Gelavêj / Gelawêj	The bright star visible in summer; the fifth month of the Kurdish calendar.	9
Galla / Gelaz / Gasha / Geşa / Gashbin / Geşîn	Leaf (Galla); Growth/joy (Gasha); Optimistic (Gashbin).	11
Gawhar / Gewher / Gewrê / Gever	A beautiful precious stone; wide plains (Gawhar).	9
Gazî / Gazîn / Gaziza / Gezîza	Call/appeal (Gazî); A seven-colored flower (Gaziza).	9
Gelas / Gêlas / Gerdan / Gerdana	Cherry (Gelas); Necklace (Gerdan).	9
Gerdangaz / Gerdengaz / Gerdew / Gerdîn / Gerdûn	Universe (Gerdûn).	9
Geşê / Gezing / Gezîne / Gilêne / Gilya / Gilyaz	Identifiers associated with vision, eyes, and clarity.	9
Giyaban / Giraw / Gizem	A very fragrant herb (Giyaban).	7
Glara / Glare / Glay / Gona / Gorkem	Apple of the eye/eyesight (Glara); Cheek (Gona); Rosemoon (Glay).	6
Govend / Gozê / Gozel / Grîvan / Guhdar / Guhtem	Kurdish circle dance/lover (Govend).	9
Gul / Gulabax / Gullabakh / Gullbakhi	Rose/flower (Gul); Thorny rose yielding rosewater (Gullbakhi).	9
Gulale / Gullala / Gulal / Gulan / Gullan	Red flower with black dots (Gulale); Second month of spring (Gulan).	9
Gulasor / Gulav / Gullaw / Gulavî	Red rose (Gulasor); Rosewater (Gullaw).	9
Gulazer / Gulazêr / Gulîzêr / Gulbahar / Gulbihar / Gullbahar	Golden flower (Gulazêr); Spring flower (Gulbahar).	9
Gullbasar / Gullbo / Gulçin / Gulçîn	Crested pigeon/pins flowers on head (Gullbasar); Smells like flowers (Gullbo); Flower gatherer (Gulçin).	9
Gulda / Guldan / Gulê / Gulî / Gulîk / Gulîn	Flower vase (Guldan); Variations of rose/flower.	9
Gullhanar / Gulnar / Gulîstan / Gulîxan	Pomegranate flowers (Gullhanar); Flower garden (Gulîstan); Noble flower (Gulîxan).	9
Gulnam / Gulnîşan / Gulperî / Gulroj / Gullnaz / Gulnaz	Fairy flower (Gulperî); Sun flower (Gulroj); Delicate NazNaz flower (Gullnaz).	9
Gulşen / Gulşênî / Gulsînem / Gulzar / Gülizar / Guzê	Golden rose (Gulzar); classical floral identifiers.	9
Habe / Haiv / Haivin / Hajila	Beloved (Habe); Moon of the sky (Haiv); A field plant (Hajila).	23
Halala / Helal / Helale / Halar / Halaw	Yellow mountain flower/honeycomb pollen (Halala); Warmth of fire (Halar).	9
Halim / Halwan / Halyan / Hana	Patient/calm (Halim); Mountain near Hashamez (Halwan); Hope (Hana).	9
Hatîcan / Hawîn / Hedar / Hêja / Hejîn	Summer (Hawîn); Patience (Hedar); Precious/worth a lot (Hêja).	6
Helat / Helbîn / Helez / Helin / Hêlîn / Hêlan / Heliz / Helvîn	Nest, symbolizing home and safety (Helin).	9
Hemayîl / Hemyan / Henar / Hinar / Heynar	Pomegranate fruit (Henar).	9
Hêra / Hermê / Hêro / Hetav / Hetaw	Wildflower (Hêro); Heat from the Sun (Hetav).	9
Hêva / Hevdem / Hevîn / Hevjîn / Hevovê / Hevrê / Hevta	Prevalent feminine identifiers.	9
Hewar / Hewaxan / Hewîn / Hewrê / Heycan	Summer camp/pending help (Hewar).	9
Hezar / Hizar / Hîran / Hîvî / Hîvîdar	Thousand/abundance (Hezar); Hope (Hîvî); Optimistic (Hîvîdar).	9
Hojîn / Hoşeng / Hozan	Song or poetry (Hozan).	9
Ieliyan / Ienan / Ieriya / Iesewa / Irem	Nest (Ieliyan); Trust (Ienan); Pure (Ieriya); Village in Pshdar (Iesewa).	7
Jamin / Jasan / Jawe / Jazar / Jazhna / Jajna	Forehead (Jamin); Celebration/joy (Jazhna).	23
Jgargosh / Jgarsoz / Jihan / Cîhan / Jinar / Jolana	Child (Jgargosh); Compassionate (Jgarsoz); World (Jihan); Swing (Jolana).	23
Jarê / Jîlwan / Jîman / Jînda / Jînê / Jîno / Jîrê / Jîvîn / Jiyan / Jiyar	Life (Jiyan).	9

The Botanical Paradigm: Women as the Landscape

A defining feature of Kurdish nomenclature is the sheer volumetric dominance of botanical and floral names reserved explicitly for females. As noted in anthropological analyses of Kurdish culture, "As long as women have been part of Kurdish culture, they have been flowers".³ The morphological root Gul- (flower/rose) operates as the fundamental prefix for dozens of feminine identifiers.

This creates a highly descriptive subset of names indicating the exact state, color, environment, or utility of the flower. For instance, the name is rarely just "flower"; it is highly specific. Gullbakhi refers specifically to the thorny rose used for extracting rosewater, while Gullhanar indicates the brilliant red and orange flowers of the pomegranate tree.²³ Gullbasar translates to the specific aesthetic action of a woman pinning flowers to her head.²³ Beyond the Gul- prefix, names like Nasrin (a white flower resembling a daffodil), Nergiz (daffodil), Wanawsha (a light blue/pink violet), and Gaziza (a seven-colored flower) root the female identity strictly within the biodiversity of the region.⁹

This botanical paradigm is not merely decorative; it encodes specific environmental knowledge and philosophical resilience. In a culture historically tied to high-altitude pastoralism, a flower is not merely a symbol of fragility, but a profound symbol of endurance. A woman named after a mountain flower embodies the capacity to survive freezing winters and bloom vibrantly in the rocky terrain, perfectly mirroring the survival strategies of the Kurdish people themselves.

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Kaban / Kahin / Kahîn / Kajin / Kajîn	Classical feminine identifiers.	9
Kale / Kalê / Kani / Kanî / Kanîk	Spring / fountain (Kanî).	9
Kawe / Kawê / Kejal / Keje / Kejê	Gazelle (Kejal); A girl of radiant beauty (Keje).	6
Keser / Kevi / Kevî / Kevok / Kewser	Sorrow/deep sigh (Keser); Drift (Kevi); Dove (Kevok); River in paradise (Kewser).	6
Kezizer / Kezîzer / Kine / Kinê / Kiner / Kinêr	Blonde braids (Kezizer).	9
Kiristan / Kirîstan / Kistan / Kîstan	Identifiers linking to regional geography or histories.	9
Koçer / Koser / Kulilk / Kulîlk	Nomad (Koçer); Blossom/flower (Kulilk).	9
Kurde / Kurdistan / Kvrin / Kvrîn / Kwestan / Kwêstan	Kurdish (Kurde); Land of the Kurds (Kurdistan); Mountains/highlands (Kwestan).	9
Lachin / Lahi / Laile / Leylan / Leylê	Predatory bird/Kurdish region (Lachin); Flood (Lahi); Night/classical love figure (Laile).	9
Laizok / Lajan / Laleş / Lalash	Good dancer (Laizok); Yezidi sacred place of worship (Laleş).	9
Lalezar / Lalazar / Lalav / Laman / Langeza	Garden of tulips (Lalezar); Flood (Lalav); Rain (Langeza).	9
Lanja / Lanke / Lara / Larak / Larasa / Larzana / Lava / Lawlaw	Prevalent Kurdish feminine names.	9
Lêlav / Lelan / Leman / Lence / Lerzan / Lêvken	Melting snow (Lêlav); Smiling lips (Lêvken).	9
Leymîn / Lezîn / Lilan / Lîlyan / Liza / Lîza	Yodel (Lilan).	7
Lolav / Lorî / Lorîcan / Lorîn / Lorkê	Lullaby (Lorîn).	9
Madam / Mahnous / Malmal / Malo	Shiny black piece (Madam); Town in Kut (Mahnous); Clean homekeeper (Malmal); Harvested plants (Malo).	20
Mamisa / Mamz / Mana / Manay	Yellow poppy/village (Mamisa); Deer (Mamz); Lord/Mannaite tribe (Mana); Eternal (Manay).	20
Mandan / Mandana / Mangeşew / Maşa	Dark mountain huts (Mandan); Mother of Cyrus (Mandana); Moonlight (Mangeşew).	9
Mebest / Medya / Mîdya / Mehabad	Aim/purpose (Mebest); Land of the Medes (Medya); Historic Kurdish republic city (Mehabad).	6
Mehrîban / Mehrîcan / Mehrîvan / Mejbîr / Mêmê / Mendal	Kind/compassionate (Mehrîban).	9
Mercam / Mêrdîn / Merîvan	Mardin, North Kurdistan city (Mêrdîn); Merivan, East Kurdistan city.	9
Mest / Mestan / Mêxek / Meyro	Intoxicated or drunk on love (Mest).	9
Mîran / Mirarî / Mirarîxan / Miryem / Mizgin / Mizgîn	Pearl (Mirarî); Good news/evangel (Mizgin).	6
Nada / Nahi / Nakhshin / Nexşîn	Early fruit (Nada); Morning star (Nahi); Elegant/decorated (Nakhshin).	9
Nalin / Nalîn / Namam / Narawan	Moaning/sighing (Nalin); Young seedling (Namam); Narwan tree (Narawan).	9
Nare / Narê / Nari / Narin / Narîn	Ancient word for fire/delicate woman/sad songs (Nari/Narin).	9
Narîman / Narîncan / Narme / Narmin / Nermîn	Gentle/kind heart (Narme); Soft and beautiful (Narmin).	9
Narnj / Narst / Nashm / Neşmîn / Nashmil / Neşmîl	Orange fruit (Narnj); Walking tenderly (Nashm); Charming little one (Nashmil).	9
Naska / Naskê / Naskol / Nasrin / Nesrîn	Delicate/tender (Naska); White fragrant flower (Nasrin).	9
Navbihar / Newbohar / Nawnamam / Nawniga / Nawxoş	Fresh seedlings (Nawnamam); Romantic look (Nawniga).	9
Nawzar / Nawzhin / Nawjin / Nozhin / Nojin / Nûjen	New gold (Nawzar); New life/revival (Nawzhin/Nojin).	9
Nayri / Nayrizh / Naysar	Fire in Gathas/ancient fire-worshipping tribe (Nayri); Goran tribe (Nayrizh).	19
Naza / Naz / Nazê / Nazanin / Nazenîn	Coquetry (Naz); Charming/cute (Nazanin).	7
Nazdar / Nazgull / Nazgul / Nazik / Naznaz	Beautiful (Nazdar); Delicate as a flower (Nazgull); Delicate (Nazik).	9
Nergiz / Nêrgiz / Nêrîn / Nermê / Nevin / Nevîn	Daffodil (Nergiz).	9
Newal / Newroz / Nêzîk / Nîdar / Nîgar	Valley (Newal); Kurdish New Year (Newroz); Portrait/drawing (Nîgar).	9
Nîroj / Nîşan / Nîştman / Niyan / Niyaz / Norcan	Sign (Nîşan); Homeland (Nîştman); Intention/wish (Niyaz).	9
Nsara / Nukhsha / Nuja / Nylyan / Nyar	Cinnamon dessert pattern/throwing money on bride (Nsara); Good wish (Nukhsha); Stage (Nyar).	10
Omed / Orfa	Hope (Omed); Urfa, historic city (Orfa).	9
Pakdil / Pakize / Pakîze / Paprik / Papula / Pepole	Pure heart (Pakdil); Immaculate (Pakize); Butterfly (Paprik/Papula).	9
Parang / Pardis / Pariza / Paseen	Earring pendants (Parang); Paradise (Pardis); Child of a fairy (Pariza).	22
Pashmina / Pazar / Peiman / Pel / Pelin / Pêlîn / Pelsin / Pelşî	Made of wool (Pashmina); Precious stone (Pazar); Agreement (Peiman); Little leaf (Pelin).	7
Perçem / Peri / Perî / Perîgul / Perînaz / Perîşan / Perîxan	Fairy (Peri); Fairy flower (Perîgul); Noble fairy (Perîxan).	9
Perjîn / Perseng / Pervîn / Perwane / Perwîn / Pexşan / Peyman	Butterfly (Perwane); Promise/Agreement (Peyman).	7
Pirjin / Pirjîn / Piroza / Pîroz / Pirşing / Pîşeng	Turquoise stone/mythical winged creature (Piroza); Sparks of fire/sunlight (Pirşing).	9
Plpla / Pore / Porşeng / Prdika / Prshng / Punga	Earring pendants (Plpla); Daughter of Atropates, Medes ruler (Prdika); Oregano (Punga).	9

The Semantic Shift of Sorrow: Tragedy and Virtue

Beyond the pastoral and the geographical, the emotional vocabulary of female Kurdish names offers a somber and profound reflection of Kurdish sociopolitical realities. The lexical choices made by parents often embrace themes of intense sorrow, mourning, and historical trauma.

Names such as Keser (sorrow or deep sigh), Nalin (moaning, sighing, and screaming), Zarin (crying out loud), Rondik or Esrîn (tears), and Axîn (a deep sigh) function conceptually as memorializing mechanisms.⁵ In Western naming traditions, such overtly tragic names are exceedingly rare. However, in cultures experiencing protracted statelessness, military occupation, and violence (such as the Anfal genocide or the Halabja chemical attack), sorrow is not viewed strictly as a negative or shameful emotional state. Instead, it is elevated to a supreme virtue of historical endurance. To name a daughter Rondik (tears) or Hedar (patience) is to openly acknowledge the collective burden placed upon the community while simultaneously recognizing the immense emotional labor that is disproportionately borne by women during times of conflict.⁶

Conversely, this trauma is semantically balanced by a vigorous, militant lexicon of optimism and revolutionary strength. Names like Gashbin (optimistic), Nozhin (new life/revival), Raperîn (uprising), Şoreş (revolution), and Zîlan (symbolizing a storm or an eternal female fighter/martyr) underscore a fierce refusal to be defined solely by suffering.⁹ This duality—where one daughter within a family might be named Axîn (sigh) and another Azadî (freedom)—illustrates a comprehensive linguistic coping mechanism wherein every female child embodies a chapter of the nation's ongoing historical and political narrative.

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Qeşem / Qumrî	Identifiers found in classical poetry and song.	9
Rafina / Raha / Rakhshan / Ramatiya / Rana / Rand / Rendê	Destroyed village (Rafina); Salvation (Raha); Shiny (Rakhshan); Medes royalty (Ramatiya); Brave girl (Rand).	9
Rangina / Rengîn / Raniya / Ranye / Raperîn	Colorful (Rangina); South Kurdish city (Raniya); Uprising/rebellion (Raperîn).	9
Ravyar / Rawezh / Rawshan / Rayan / Raz / Razaw / Razan	Hunter (Ravyar); Armenian river (Rayan); Story (Raz); Embellished (Razaw); Grapes (Razan).	9
Reben / Rehan / Rîhan / Rehzna / Rêjîn / Rêjne	Basil/folk song (Rehan).	9
Resan / Revin / Rewan / Rewşa / Rewşen / Rezan / Rêzan	Spring in Awyar (Resan); Path-finder/scholar/fall of leaves (Rezan).	7
Rezheen / Rîken / Rindê / Robîn / Roja / Rozha / Rojê	Sun/rose (Roja).	6
Rojan / Rozhan / Rojbîn / Rojgul / Rojhat / Rojda / Rozhda	Daily (Rojan); Seeing the sun (Rojbîn); Sun flower (Rojgul); Sunrise (Rojda).	7
Rojgar / Rozhgar / Rojhalat / Rojhelat / Rojin / Rozhin / Rojîn	Time (Rojgar); Sunrise/East (Rojhalat); Like a day/pretty sun (Rojin).	7
Rojyar / Rozhyar / Rona / Ronahî / Ronak / Rounak / Roni / Ronî	Sun/time (Rojyar); Light/clarity/illumination (Rona/Ronak).	6
Rondk / Rondik / Roniya / Roshan / Roste	Tears (Rondk); Eid in Zazaki (Roshan); Village (Roste).	9
Roza / Rozerin / Rozerîn / Rûciwan / Rûgeş / Rûken / Rûzerîn	Child of the Sun (Roza); Beautiful face (Rûciwan); Smiling face (Rûken).	7
Rukhosh / Rukhsar / Rusen	Nice talking/smiling (Rukhosh); Face/view (Rukhsar); Jovial (Rusen).	6
Sabryia / Sarê / Sawen / Sazan / Sebar / Selwer / Sema / Serbar	Identifiers linking to joy, patience, and history.	7
Serçinar / Serfiraz / Sergul / Sercan	Proud/triumphant (Serfiraz); Head of the flower (Sergul); Servant/slave (Sercan).	6
Sêwê / Seyran / Seyda / Shahen	Crazy in love (Seyda); Hawk with beautiful eyes/tree (Shahen).	6
Shahnaz / Şehnaz / Şanaz / Shakra / Shakran	Noble joy (Shahnaz); Mountain plant (Shakra); Village (Shakran).	9
Shakrasew / Shakraw / Shakrin / Shamama / Şemam	Sweet apple (Shakrasew); Sweet as sugar (Shakraw); Melon-shaped fruit (Shamama).	9
Shame / Shanar / Şana / Shanga / Şengê / Sharansh	Candle (Shame); Pomegranate flower (Shanar); Beautiful/strong (Shanga); Spring/lake (Sharansh).	6
Shehla / Shehin / Shervan / Shilan / Shivan / Shulker / Shuresh	Prevalent feminine names marking history and struggle.	10
Sîber / Sidar / Sikala / Sîlav / Sînem / Sînemxan / Sinda / Sindis	Shadow/shade (Sîber); Canopy (Sidar).	6
Sinur / Sise / Sîpel / Sîsik / Sîsin / Sirin / Şirîn / Şirînnaz	Border (Sinur); Sweet/beautiful victory (Sirin).	6
Sitî / Sitîxan / Sîvan / Sizan / Siwan / Sokar / Solin / Solîn	Lady (Sitî); Canopy (Siwan); Beautiful flower garden (Solin).	6
Soma / Sorê / Sozan / Spehi / Srûşt / Srwe / Stêrê / Stran / Sûlav / Suma	Glowing/burning (Sozan); Beautiful (Spehi); Nature (Srûşt); Song (Stran).	6
Şadan / Şadîman / Şala / Şayan / Şehrîban / Şelal / Şêlaz / Şepal	Joyful (Şadan).	9
Şepirze / Şepol / Şermîn / Şevba / Şevîn / Şewba / Şewnim	Wave (Şepol); Dew (Şewnim).	9
Şîlan / Şilêr / Şilove / Şine / Şînî / Şino / Şîwen / Şoreş / Şoxan	Breeze (Şine); Revolution (Şoreş); Beautiful woman (Şoxan).	9
Taban / Tablo / Talar / Talan / Tanas / Tanya / Tara	Painting (Tablo); Altered Kurdish village (Tanas); Red bridal lace (Tara).	9
Tarza / Tasa / Tatiana / Tavîn / Tavga / Têkoşîn / Tela	Hailstone (Tarza); Appetite/desire/missing (Tasa); Waterfall (Tavga); Struggle (Têkoşîn); Short for Ottelia (Tela).	7
Telar / Telinaz / Têlîxan / Tenya / Teyrê / Tilove / Tîroj	Blonde with straight hair (Telinaz); Alone (Tenya); Sunlight (Tîroj).	9
Tnok / Tolaz / Toutme / Tre / Trifa / Trouska / Tujela	Raindrops (Tnok); Beautiful (Tolaz); Sumac tree (Toutme); Grapes (Tre); Moonlight (Trifa); Sparkle (Trouska); Plateau (Tujela).	6
Vabur / Vana / Varchin / Varezh / Varej / Varin / Varina	Savings (Vabur); They/these (Vana); Order to reap (Varchin); Loneliness/missed (Varin).	31
Varsin / Vary / Vazan / Vazhi / Vaji / Vazhin / Vajin / Vejîn	Moving to escape (Varsin); Revival of a river/rebirth (Vazan); Revival (Vazhin/Vejîn).	9
Vazin / Veman / Venus / Viana / Vina / Vînê / Vinda / Viyan	Aphrodite/Goddess of love (Venus); Attractive/resort (Viana); Thirst/desire (Vinda); Love/intention/wish (Viyan).	7

Dialectal Plurality: Sorani, Kurmanji, Hawrami, and Zazaki

Kurdish is not a monolith but a vast continuum of dialects, each preserving distinct archaic vocabularies, phonetic structures, and historical influences. The female naming conventions reflect this incredible pluricentricity. Hawrami and Zazaki, spoken primarily in the Zagros mountains and central/eastern regions respectively, retain highly conservative grammatical structures and ancient lexicon that have been lost in more urbanized dialects. This linguistic conservation is clearly visible in female names. For instance, the Hawrami word Ada is utilized directly as a female name meaning "mother," "great," or "the giver," and Yana translates to "house" or "place of rest".⁴

Similarly, Zazaki and Gorani names demonstrate unique phonetic and semantic properties, such as Roshan, which translates to the festival of "Eid" specifically in the Zazaki dialect.¹⁶ The structural suffixes typical of the majority dialects, Kurmanji and Sorani, also fundamentally shape female names. The suffix -xan or -xatûn denotes deep nobility or ladyship, appended to names to create powerful identifiers like Begixan or Esmerxan.⁹

Crucially, the suffix -van or -wan, which denotes occupation or the "doer" of an action, creates names like Berivan (the woman who milks the sheep during the seasonal beri). This seamlessly merges the concept of female labor with the natural world, as Berivan also simultaneously refers to "the flower of the mountain".⁹ Thus, linguistic markers not only identify gender but the exact economic and pastoral roles women have played in Kurdish society for centuries.

Name	Meaning / Contextual Description	Citation
Wala / Wana / Wanan / Wanar / Wanawsha	Open/delicate cotton dress (Wala); Lessons (Wana); Light blue/pink violet (Wanawsha).	26
Wanda / Waran / Waray / Warda / Warde / Warga / Warshang	Educated women (Wanda); Rain/village (Waran); Worthy (Waray, Hawrami); Food (Warda, Hawrami); Beautiful like the sun (Warshang).	26
Warshaw / Warshin / Warşênî / Warvin / Warzhen / Washin	Copper/silver alloy (Warshaw); Stream in Bingol (Warshin); Falling water drops (Warvin); Write from memory (Warzhen, Kalhori).	9
Wazha / Wazham / Wazhar / Wazhaw / Wazhin / Wazn	Word/speech/sound of leaves (Wazha); Mountain in Hakkari (Wazham); Speaker (Wazhar); Newly blossomed bud (Wazn).	26
Wena / Wenasar / Wenawar / Wenaz / Wera / Werîna	Photo/appearance in mind (Wena); Like a picture (Wenawar); Evening/brave (Wera).	9
Wesîla / Wesha / Wezha	Himself/herself (Wesha, Hawrami); Poetry/eloquent/clean (Wezha).	9
Xanê / Xanim / Xanzad / Xatîn / Xatûn / Xebat / Xecê	Lady/Noblewoman (Xanim/Xatûn); Struggle (Xebat).	9
Xelat / Xêlîcan / Xemê / Xemgîn / Xemlîn / Xende / Xerman	Gift (Xelat); Sad (Xemgîn); Smile (Xende).	9
Xewn / Xezal / Xezêm / Xifşê / Xîsar / Xonaw / Xonçe	Dream (Xewn); Gazelle (Xezal).	9
Xoşeng / Xoxê / Xozge / Xunaw / Xuzî	Identifiers associated with nature, wishes, and beauty.	9
Yade / Yaga / Yaghut / Yana / Yar / Yara / Yardl / Yardil	Mother (Yade); Place (Yaga, Hawrami); Ruby (Yaghut); House (Yana, Hawrami); Sweetheart/lover (Yar); Strength/my love (Yara); Close friend (Yardl).	9
Yare / Yargul / Yarin / Yarsa / Yekbun / Yekcan / Yelda / Yezda	Friend of flower (Yargul); Ahl al-Haq religion (Yarsa); Unity (Yekbun); Winter solstice (Yelda); Divine creature (Yezda).	6
Zabar / Zaitoun / Zeytîn / Zeytûn / Zanav / Zand / Zanta	Daughter of Ziak (Zabar); Olive tree (Zaitoun); Similar (Zanav); Resort (Zanta).	5
Zara / Zare / Zerê / Zargash / Zargull / Zergul / Zarin	Partridge/equivalent to Sarah (Zara); Blonde/blue-eyed (Zare); Cheerful (Zargash); Mouth like a flower (Zargull); Crying out (Zarin).	5
Zarnj / Zarya / Zerya / Zatora / Zawa / Zawara / Zawita	Mountain flower (Zarnj); Sea (Zarya/Zerya); Grandchildren (Zatora); Star (Zawa); Baby/courage (Zawara); Cold east wind (Zawita).	5
Zayele / Zaze / Zbe / Zelal / Zemrîd / Zerin / Zêrîn	Echo (Zayele); Shy (Zaze); Short for Zubeda (Zbe); Clear (Zelal); Emerald (Zemrîd); Golden (Zerin).	5
Zerî / Zerîxan / Zernîşan / Zevin / Zewe / Zewka / Zeyno	Silver (Zevin); Village on Mount Piramagrun/destroyed villages (Zewe/Zewka).	5
Zhala / Jala / Zhalan / Jalan / Zhalani / Zhalasa / Jalasa	Bitter evergreen tree (Zhala); Plural of hole/river (Zhalan); Mountain (Zhalani); Zhala under shade (Zhalasa).	5
Zhalia / Zhaliyan / Jaliyan / Zhaman / Jaman / Zhangal / Jangal	Flower (Zhalia); Church bells/meal (Zhaman); Blue bead/wild pigeon (Zhangal).	5
Zhansa / Jansa / Zhanyar / Janyar	A kind of plant (Zhansa); Instrument player (Zhanyar).	5
Zîlan / Zilfê / Zîn / Zînê / Zînet / Zoya / Zozan	Storm/eternal female martyr (Zîlan); Classical heroine (Zîn); Highland/summer pasture (Zozan).	9