Farah

Farah is a given name and surname of Arabic origin, commonly interpreted to mean joy, happiness, or delight. The root word farah appears across Arabic-speaking communities and has been adopted in various languages and cultures, including Persian, Urdu, Somali, Turkish, and English-speaking contexts. In many regions, Farah is used as a feminine name, though transliteration and local naming traditions can produce variants such as Farha or Farha.

As a given name, Farah is widely used in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Africa, as well as in diaspora communities around the world. It is often chosen for its positive meaning and its ease of pronunciation across languages. In some contexts, Farah appears as a surname, especially among families with historical ties to Arabic-speaking or Muslim-majority societies.

Notable people with the name include Mo Farah, a British long-distance runner who has won multiple Olympic and World Championship titles. Farah Pahlavi, born Farah Diba, is the former Empress of Iran, who reigned alongside Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from 1961 until the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Turkish actress Farah Zeynep Abdullah is another contemporary bearer of the name, recognized for roles in popular television series.

Geographically, Farah refers to Farah Province in western Afghanistan, whose capital city is also named Farah. The province borders Iran and features arid and semi-arid environments, with a history shaped by trade routes and recent conflicts that have affected development and security in the region.

Overall, Farah is a culturally versatile name associated with positive meaning, used across multiple languages and regions, and it appears in various personal, geographic, and cultural contexts.