Pakhtoon / Pushtun Names

A majority of Pakistanis have names that are instantly recognizable as Islamic names. The centuries of Islamic influences, from Arabia and through Persia, manifest in the Arabic and Persian sounding names of the people. Still, there exists among many an understanding that there was life and culture in these lands before Islam became the dominant religion. While most pre-islamic names are lost to history, some survive to this day thanks to those who have stayed true to their own cultures.

Lets start this list with some pure Pakhtoon names. The pakhtoon (Pathans to us Punjabis) are one community that despite its conservative islamic leanings has been able to preserve aspects of its own culture. In the list below you will notice a method to Pakhtoon names where objects of beauty, be it animals, birds, flowers, gems, precious metals, natural phenomenon, or human qualities, are the inspiration for these names. This list is by no means authoritative or complete so your help in editing or expanding it is greatly appreciated.

Pashtun names for girls: Ariana (old name of afghanistan – land of arians),  Badrai (fairy on lake saifulmalook),  Balbala (bulbul),  Brekhna (lightning),  Bukhtawara (lucky),  Durkhanai,  Gabina (honey),  Galai (hail),  Gulalai (beautiful),  Ghatola (tulip),  Gulbano (flower princess),  Gulghotai (flower bud),  Gulpalhra (flower petal),  Gulmakai,  Gulmina (flower of love),  Gulnar (flower from fire),  Gulsanga (branch leaden with flowers),  Gulwarin (one who sprinkles flowers),  Helai (swan),  Hilia (hope), Hina (liver-denoted closeness / akin to jigar, jigar gosha in urdu),  Husai (gazelle),  Kashmala (flower),  Kawtara (pigeon),  Kontara (dove),  Khatol (poppy flower),  Lalzari (amber & gold),  Lamba (flame),   Mahzala (moonlight),  Malala /Malalai (melancholy-a folk heroine),  Mina (love),  Nangialai (honorable),  Natkai (nose ring),  Nazanina,  Nazo,  Niazmina (very dear),  Palwasha (moon light),  Pashmina (woolen),  Pekhla (dew),  Pokhla,  Reshmina (silken),  Reshtina (truthful),  Roshina (gives light),  Rokhana (bright),  Sandara (song),  Sanga (branch),  Sangina (polite),  Shaghalay (content),  Shamira (sweet),  Shandana,  Shanzai,  Shaperai (fairy),  Shastai (chrysanthemum),  Shughla (ray of light),  Silai (wind),  Spogmay (moon),  Storai (star),  Torpikai (one with black hair),  Wagma (breeze),  Warda (rose),  Zalah (shiny),  Zareena (golden),  Zarghuna (green),  Zarka (crane-bird),  Zarlakhta (golden branch),  Zarmina (golden love),  Zarsanga (golden branch),  Zarwareen (one who sprinkles gold),  Zhalai (hail)

Pashtun names for boys: Abasin (river Indus),  Amail (necklace),  Angaar (ember),  Asfand,  Asfandyar,  Atal (hero),  Awalmir (first among kings),  Azmaray (another form of Zmaray-lion),  Babrak (lion cub/small lion),  Bakhtawar (lucky), Baryal/Baryalai (brave),  Batoor (brave),  Baz (eagle),  Behram,  Darun (respectable),  Daryab (river),  Daulat (wealth),  Emal,  Ghatool (tulip),  Gul (flower),  Gulab (rose),  Lawangin,  Mashal,  Mirwais,  Nang (honor),  Nangial (honorable),  Qajeer,  Olasyar (friend of the people),  Sangar (battlefield),  Sangin (polite),  Sangrez (stone breaker),  Sarban (guide),  Sarbaz (eagle),  Shingul (blue flower), Shpol (halo around moon),  Sparlay (spring season),  Spingul (white flower),  Surgul (red flower),  Toran (brave),  Torgul (black flower),  Toryal (swordsman),  Toryalai (brave),  Zaland (bright),  Zalmay (young),  Zarak (gold),  Zardad,  Zargar (goldsmith),  Zargul (golden flower),  Zarkanay (goldstone),  Zaryab (possessor of gold/rich),  Zmarak (lion cub),  Zmaray (lion),

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