Etymology and MeaningSohrab (also romanized as Suhrāb) is a given name of Persian origin. Its etymology points to an ancient Iranian composite: the first part sohr derives from an Old Persian word meaning “red,” and the second part, āb, translates to “water.” The name is thus thought to mean “red water” or “hot red water,” a poetic evocation that recalls the famous tragic hero of Persian mythology.Epic SignificanceIn Persian literature, Sohrab is indelibly linked to the 10th-century national epic, the “Shahnameh” (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi. He is the son of the mighty Iranian hero Rostam and the princess Tahmineh of Samangan. The legend recounts how Rostam, unaware of the child conceived from his union with Tahmineh, later met a young warrior champion on the battlefield. The two engage in combat, and Rostam mortally wounds his own son. Only at the moment of death does father and son recognize each other—a tragedy built on dramatic irony and destined grief. The name Sohrab has therefore become synonymous with filial love, mistaken identity, and inexorable fate in the Persian-speaking world.Distribution and VariantsThe name gravitates among Iranian peoples and those influenced by Persian culture. Over time, linguistic adaptations have emerged: the form Suhrab or Sukhrab appears in Kyrgyz contexts, and it entered the Georgian language as Zurab, where it remains in use.Cultural LegacyThe story of Rostam and Sohrab features thematically in art, theater, and even politics beyond Iran. It is a staple of Persian mourning traditions, and modern retellings reinterpret the moral questions about duty and love. Ferdowsi’s verses are recited at memorial ceremonies, and Sohrab’s name endures as a lasting symbol of the unpredictable might of destiny.Meaning: Red water (Persian: sohr “red” + āb “water”)Origin: PersianType: First name, masculineUsage regions: Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Persian diaspora; also Kyrgyz (Suhrab), Georgian (Zurab)Root name: Rostam, the legendary hero