Kurdish Naming Customs

Online Tools

 * Behind the Name: Kurdish Given Names

Surnames

 * Many Iraqi Kurds have adopted Arabic naming customs.
 * Some Iraqi Kurds and Kurds in other countries, such as Türkiye (Turkey), have a geographical or tribal name as a last name or have adopted a grandfather’s or great grandfather’s personal name as a family name.
 * Familial relationships:
 * Kurdish women do not traditionally take their husband’s family name on marriage, although some may do so in Western societies.
 * Children typically adopt their father’s family name.

Given Names

 * There are some traditional Kurdish names still in use.
 * a. male personal names: Diaco, Kochar, Redoir, Roj, Jochar, Sherko;
 * b. female personal names: Aveen, Awat, Dilsoz, Sidar, Zhian.


 * Some Kurds use their father’s/grandfather’s or mother’s/grandmother’s personal name as a middle name:e.g.,
 * (husband) Haval BARZANI
 * (wife) Aveen SINJARI
 * (son) Diaco Haval BARZANI
 * (daughter) Sidar Aveen BARZANI