sirvan

Sirvan is a proper name used in Persian and Kurdish contexts and also appears as a geographical toponym in parts of western Iran and the Iran–Iraq region. In many usages, it is associated with rivers or flowing water, a common motif in the linguistic roots of the area.

Etymology and meanings commonly linked to the term center on its connection to water. In Kurdish, a related form such as Şirwan is used for a river, while in Persian-adjacent usage the root is often interpreted in relation to streams or waterways. The exact meaning can vary with language and local tradition, and transliterations differ in maps and texts.

Geography and places. The name Sirvan or its variants appear in reference to geographic features in western Iran and neighboring areas. A major river, known in Kurdish as Şirwan and in Persian as Sirwan or Sirvan, flows through the Iran–Iraq region and has historically served as a geographic landmark that shaped settlement and travel in the Zagros and Mesopotamian belt. Beyond this river, the name is used for smaller locales and administrative entities in western Iran, reflecting the regional prominence of the term.

People and usage. As a given name, Sirvan is used among Kurdish and Persian-speaking communities for individuals, particularly in contemporary contexts. It may be given to boys and, less commonly, to girls, depending on local naming practices. Variants and transliterations such as Sirwan or Siwan are common, influenced by script and pronunciation in different languages.

See also. Sirwan, Siwan, Şirwan—variants that reflect transliteration differences. Context is important to determine whether a reference to Sirvan denotes a river, a place, or a person.