Boy name
Rüstem name meaning
“the mighty hero of the Shahnameh”
Rüstem is the name of the mighty hero of the Shahnameh. Used for boys in Türkiye, it is the Turkish form of Persian Rostam. In Ferdowsi's epic, the hero appears alongside his horse Rakhsh, making their adventures a concrete literary association attached to the name.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Persian
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Rüstem mean?
The mighty hero of the Shahnameh
In Turkish: Şehname'nin güçlü ve yiğit kahramanı
Rüstem is associated with Rostam, a central hero of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, the son of Zal and father of Sohrab. His extraordinary strength made him a recurring reference in Persian and Turkish literature. Ottoman poetry also invokes his name as an image of martial prowess.
How popular is Rüstem?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 2provinces
Where is Rüstem in the top 30?
2 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Origin of the name Rüstem
Rüstem is the Turkish form of Persian Rostam. Its deeper Iranian etymology has received different explanations, so a precise literal translation is uncertain.
Double names with Rüstem
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Rüstem Azmi
Meaning of each name
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
- Azmi: relating to resolve; determined
-
Tayfur Rüstem
Meaning of each name
- Tayfur: a small bird; a bird name
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
-
Rüstem Mirhat
Meaning of each name
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
- Mirhat: The lord or ruler has arrived
-
Muratcan Rüstem
Meaning of each name
- Muratcan: a wished-for life; a cherished being
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
-
Rüstem Necip
Meaning of each name
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
- Necip: noble, distinguished, highborn
-
Hazar Rüstem
Meaning of each name
- Hazar: the Caspian Sea and historical Khazars
- Rüstem: the mighty hero of the Shahnameh
How to pronounce Rüstem
| Syllables | 2 · 6 letters · 6-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ɾystem/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | رستم |
Is Rüstem a boy’s name?
Yes, Rüstem is used mostly as a boy’s name. In TÜİK data, 95% of bearers are male. See all boy names.
Rüstem appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Rüstem
- Rüstem Batum · b. 1952
- Rüstem Derin · b. 1979
- Rüstem Hamşioğlu · b. 1866
- Rüstem Hayat
- Rüstem Mustafa
- Rüstem Zeydan · b. 1956
- Rüstem Anıl Uğan
- Rüstem Aslan · b. 1965
- Rüstem Budak
- Rüstem Kaya
- Rüstem Kaya · b. 1947
- Rüstem Keçili
FAQ about the name Rüstem
What is the meaning of Rüstem?
Rüstem means “the mighty hero of the Shahnameh”. Rüstem is the Turkish form of Persian Rostam. Its deeper Iranian etymology has received different explanations, so a precise literal translation is uncertain.
Is Rüstem a boy’s name?
Yes, Rüstem is used mostly as a boy’s name. In TÜİK data, 95% of bearers are male.
Is Rüstem in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Rüstem nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Rüstem?
Rüstem is of Persian origin.
How many syllables does Rüstem have?
Rüstem has 2 syllables and 6 letters.
How popular is the name Rüstem?
Rüstem appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Rüstem?
Some ideas: Rüstem Azmi; Tayfur Rüstem; Rüstem Mirhat.
Famous people named Rüstem?
Notable people named Rüstem include Rüstem Batum, Rüstem Derin, Rüstem Hamşioğlu.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm01217 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake