Kobad

Kobad is a male given name of Persian origin. It is commonly transliterated as Kobad or Kavād, with Kavadh as another English rendering. The form appears in historical sources as Kavād and has been borne by several rulers in Persian and Sassanian-era histories, giving rise to the traditional regnal forms Kavād I and Kavād II in English-language chronicles. In modern usage, the form Kobad remains common in Iran and among Persian-speaking communities abroad, where it is used as a given name without any specific religious or cultural implication.

Etymology and historical context: The exact meaning of Kavād is uncertain. The name appears in Middle Persian sources and is associated with the long lineage of Sassanian-era rulership in Persian literature. As with many ancient names, there is no widely agreed-upon semantic gloss in contemporary scholarship, and the form is typically treated as a traditional given name rather than a term with a clear modern meaning.

Usage and cultural notes: In contemporary contexts, Kobad is used across generations and can be found among individuals in various professions, including academia, arts, business, and public life. The historical associations with royalty give the name a certain prestige in Persian-speaking communities, but it does not imply any specific lineage or status in modern usage. The name remains a recognizable element of Persian-onward naming traditions as well as a cultural link to Iran’s historical past.