What does Arash mean?
Arash is a legendary archer-hero of Persian myth, his name linked to “truthful.”
What does Bijan mean?
Bijan is a romantic hero of the Shahnameh.
Arash vs Bijan
Which is more popular?
Arash is more popular than Bijan today: about 20 US babies were given the name Arash in 2025, compared with 8 named Bijan.
| Arash | Bijan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Truthful; legendary archer | Hero of legend |
| Origin | Persian | Persian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ah-RAHSH | bee-ZHAHN |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1972 | 1968 |
| Peak year | 1982 (41) | 1991 (65) |
| In 2025 | 20 | 8 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Arash
Bijan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Arash | Bijan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 98 | 30 |
| 2010s | 113 | 55 |
| 2000s | 97 | 175 |
| 1990s | 203 | 453 |
| 1980s | 333 | 258 |
| 1970s | 129 | 21 |
| 1960s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Arash or Bijan more popular?
Arash is more popular than Bijan today: about 20 US babies were given the name Arash in 2025, compared with 8 named Bijan.
What is the difference between Arash and Bijan?
Arash means Truthful; legendary archer (Persian origin), while Bijan means Hero of legend (Persian origin).
Which name is older, Arash or Bijan?
In US records, Arash first appears in 1972 and Bijan in 1968, so Bijan has the longer recorded history.