Zarif

Zarif is a name of Persian origin that is used as both a surname and, less commonly, a given name. The word derives from the Persian زریف (zarif), meaning refined, elegant, delicate, or courteous, and it carries connotations of grace and sophistication. In Persian usage, zarif describes people, objects, or behavior marked by tact and elegance and is sometimes adopted as a personal name or surname within Persian-speaking communities.

In Turkish, zarif functions as an adjective meaning elegant or delicate and remains part of everyday vocabulary in Turkish-speaking contexts. The term appears in cross-cultural contexts within the broader Persianate and Turkic-speaking regions, where Persian linguistic influence and naming practices intersect.

Notable individuals bearing the name include Mohammad Javad Zarif (born 1960), an Iranian diplomat who served as Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2021. As a leading figure in Iran’s diplomatic engagement, he played a central role in negotiations related to Iran’s nuclear program and international diplomacy during that period.

Beyond this, Zarif is reported as a surname among various people in Iran, Afghanistan, and diaspora communities, reflecting the name’s associations with refinement and cultural aesthetics across the region.