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