Zal

Zal is a term with multiple uses across literature, onomastics, and geography. The most prominent reference is Zāl, a legendary figure in the Persian epic the Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). In the mythic narrative, Zāl is a noble warrior and king of Zabulistan, and the father of Rostam, Iran’s greatest hero. According to the story, Zāl was born with white hair, a trait that led to his early abandonment by his father and his subsequent upbringing by the magical Simurgh. He grows into a wise and powerful leader, marries Rudabeh, and licenses Rostam’s heroic lineage, a central thread in the epic’s lore.

As a given name, Zal is used in Persian-speaking regions and in Afghanistan and parts of South Asia. It is typically a male name and is sometimes chosen in reference to the Shahnameh figure, though it also appears independently as a personal name with various cultural associations. The spelling varies in transliteration, including Zal and Zāl.

Beyond myth and naming, Zal may appear in local place names or cultural references in regions where Persian literary heritage has influence. Such uses are comparatively rare and tend to be context-dependent, often drawing on the associations of the legendary Zāl or the name itself. In general, the term Zal is primarily recognized for its connection to Persian mythology and its use as a personal given name in related linguistic communities.