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Home › Baby Names Directory › Farah

Farah

♀ Girl

Pronounced FAR-ah /ˈfær.ə/Low

Meaning: Joy, happiness, cheerfulnessLow

In 30 seconds: Farah is a luminous Arabic name meaning joy or happiness from the root farah. Used across the Arab world and in Muslim communities globally, it is associated with Empress Farah of Iran, one of the most elegant women of the 20th century.
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Origin LowArabic
MeaningJoy, happiness, cheerfulness
U.S. rank (2025)#1350 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births164 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,278

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201219602025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Farah derives from the Arabic root faraha meaning to rejoice or be happy. As a given name it has been used across Arabic-speaking countries and Muslim communities for centuries, expressing the wish that the bearer's life be filled with joy.

In the United States, Farah appears among families with Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian Muslim heritage. Its two syllables travel well across languages.

Did you know? Empress Farah Pahlavi was the last Empress of Iran, renowned for her cultural patronage, humanitarian work, and elegance. She helped bring the name Farah to international attention as a symbol of sophistication.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Farah

Variations

FaraFarrahFaarah

Nicknames

FarFara

Famous Bearers

  • ★Farah Pahlavi (b. 1938)
    Last Empress (Shahbanu) of Iran, wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

If you like Farah…

Farrah— Spelling variant of same name
Sara— Two-syllable Arabic/Hebrew name of same warmth
Nadia— Arabic-origin feminine name of similar elegance
Layla— Arabic feminine name of same joyful feel

Explore names like Farah

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Frequently Asked

What does Farah mean?

Farah means joy or happiness in Arabic from the root faraha meaning to rejoice.

Who is Empress Farah?

Farah Pahlavi was the last Empress of Iran, renowned for cultural patronage and the first woman crowned Empress Consort of Iran.

How do you pronounce Farah?

Farah is pronounced FAR-ah with two syllables.

What names are similar to Farah?

Similar names include Farrah, Sara, Nadia, and Layla.

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