Reza

Reza is a male given name of Persian origin. In Persian, the name is written رضا and typically transliterated as Reza, Rezā, or Riza. In Turkish and some related languages, the form Rıza is common. The name derives from the Arabic root ridha, meaning satisfaction, contentment, or consent. As such, it carries connotations of approval or virtue in many Islamic cultures. The name is widely used in Iran and among Persian-speaking communities, and it has also become common in Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and South Asia through historical cultural and religious ties.

Notable people with the given name include Reza Shah Pahlavi (1878–1944), the founder of the Pahlavi Dynasty in Iran; Reza Pahlavi (born 1960), his son and former Crown Prince of Iran; and Reza Aslan (born 1972), Iranian-American scholar and author. The name also appears in modern media and public life in other forms, and variants such as Rizā or Rıza are used in Turkish-speaking contexts.

In addition to its given-name use, Reza occasionally appears as a surname in some families, though it is predominantly a first name. The name’s enduring popularity reflects historical Persianate naming practices and broader Islamic cultural influence.