Darius (given name)

Darius
Darius I of the Persian Empire
Pronunciation/dəˈrəs, ˈdɛəriəs/
U.K. also: /ˈdɑːr-/
GenderMale
Other gender
FeminineDaria
Origin
Word/namePersian
DerivationDariush (داریوش)
MeaningHolding firm the good
Region of originPersia
Other names
Variant form(s)Darius (surname)
Related namesDara, Dario, Daris

Darius is an English-rendered masculine given name of Persian origin, derived from the original name Dariush (Persian: داریوش).

Origin and meaning

The name's origins trace back to Old Persian: 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 [Dārayavauš], which is composed of 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹 (Dāraya-, lit.'to hold') and 𐎺𐎢 (va(h)u-, lit.'good'), meaning "holding firm the good"[1] from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (lit.'to hold') and analogous to:

  • Ancient Greek: Δᾱρειαῖος (Dareiaîos)
  • Imperial Aramaic: 𐡃𐡓𐡉𐡄𐡅𐡔 (Dryhwš)
  • Elamite: Da-ri-(y)a-ma-u-iš
  • Akkadian: Da-(a-)ri-ia-(a-)muš

Shorter forms include:

  • Old Persian: 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎢𐏁 (Dārayauš)
  • Latin: Dārīus, Dārēus
  • Armenian: Դարեհ (Dareh)
  • Ancient Greek: Δαρεῖος (Dareîos)
  • Imperial Aramaic: 𐡃𐡓𐡅𐡔 (Drwš, Drywš)
  • Elamite: Da-ri-ya-(h)u-(ú-)iš
  • Akkadian: Da-(a-)ri-muš
  • Egyptian: Tr(w)š, Trjwš', Intr(w)š, Intrjwš
  • Lycian: 𐊑𐊗𐊀𐊕𐊆𐊊𐊁𐊒𐊖 (Ñtarijeus-)

Notable people with the given name

Historical figures

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Notable people with the surname

Fictional characters with the name

See also

References

  1. ^ Schmitt, Rudiger (15 December 1994). "DARIUS i. The Name". Encyclopædia Iranica.
Name list
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