WANA (Dec 10) – The Population Monitoring Center of Iran, affiliated with the National Organization for Civil Registration, has released new nationwide data on the most popular names chosen for newborn girls—figures that once again highlight the enduring appeal of traditional religious names.

 

According to the report, “Fatemeh”—a name historically associated with the daughter of the Prophet of Islam—remains the most common female name in Iran, with more than 4.5 million registrations across the country. It is followed by “Zahra,” another name linked to the Prophet’s daughter, with approximately 3 million registered bearers.

 

In the next tier of popularity, the names Maryam, Ma’soumeh, and Zeinab appear prominently. All three carry strong religious significance and draw from revered female figures in Islamic tradition, continuing to shape naming patterns among Iranian families.

 

Demographic experts note that the persistence of these names reflects the deep-rooted influence of religious traditions on Iranian social identity. Even as modern and nontraditional names have gained some visibility in recent years, official data shows that classical religious names still dominate the country’s naming landscape for girls.

Children during playtime at Ghesseye Man (My Story) kindergarten in northern Tehran, Iran September 27, 2020. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)