Social Onomastics of Rulers in Iran from Antiquity to Islam: Reflections of Identity, Legitimacy, and Power in Naming Structures (from the Elamites to the Timurids)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor of the History Department of Payame Noor University. Tehran.Iran

Abstract

Names reflect linguistic and cultural transformations and are closely tied to the identity and historical memory of societies. In Iranian history, the names of rulers and political elites have served as tools for legitimization or cultural resistance against religious and political domination. This interdisciplinary study explores naming patterns among Iranian rulers from the Elamite period to the Timurid era, analyzing names as socio-linguistic elements that express power structures, religious-cultural identity, and political legitimacy.
Using a descriptive-analytical method and historical sources, the study reveals that the Elamite rulers adopted names linked to native deities and divine concepts to reinforce their authority. This pattern continued through the Achaemenid and Sasanian periods, where names conveyed moral and religious ideals. Following the Islamic conquest, naming became a means of acquiring religious-political legitimacy. During the Ghaznavid and Seljuk periods, the interplay among Turkic, Islamic, and Persian names reflected cultural dynamism and strategic identity-building. Under the Mongol and Timurid rule, naming practices aligned with conquered cultures to enhance social acceptance and consolidate power.

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References

 
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