iStar

Istar is a name used in several different contexts. In its most historical sense, Istar is a variant transliteration of Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, and fertility. Ishtar, an Akkadian counterpart to the Sumerian goddess Inanna, appears in Mesopotamian myth and worship across the region. The goddess is commonly associated with the planet Venus, and her cult featured in multiple major Mesopotamian cities.

In modern usage, Istar also appears as a personal name and, less commonly, as a toponym or fictional character name in literature, games, and other media. The spelling reflects English-language transliterations of the ancient name and is sometimes used interchangeably with Ishtar in contemporary references.

Because Istar overlaps with Ishtar in historical and literary contexts, some sources treat Istar as a direct reference to the goddess, while others regard it as a variant form or a distinct name adopted in modern works. The precise meaning often depends on the source language and context.

See also: Ishtar; Inanna.