Mehrdad

Mehrdad is a male given name of Persian origin commonly used in Iran, Afghanistan, and among Persian-speaking communities worldwide. It is a compound of Mehr and dad, with Mehr carrying connotations of kindness, affection, and the sun, while dad means "given" or "gift." As a result, Mehrdad is often interpreted as "gift of Mehr" or "given by Mehr."

The name has historical resonance due to Mehr being associated with Mithra, a sun deity in Iranian and broader Zoroastrian tradition, which contributes to its cultural symbolism. Mehrdad is typically transliterated as Mehrdād in Persian script; spellings such as Mehrdad are common in English-language contexts. Variants or related names in the Persian naming tradition include standalone Mehr.

Mehrdad is a popular choice among Persian-speaking communities in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and continues to appear in contemporary naming patterns. It is used across generations and found among people in education, arts, sports, business, and public life, reflecting a broader trend of Persian compound names combining a virtue or celestial reference with a generative element.

In related terms, the element Mehr is connected to Mithra in ancient Iranian contexts and appears in modern Persian names as a signal of warmth, loyalty, and protection.