When Did Persia Become Iran? Unpacking A Long History In 2024

Prof. Marcellus Toy

29 Jul, 2025

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Have you ever wondered about the names countries carry, and what they really mean? It's a bit like discovering a family's old nickname versus their given name, isn't it? The question of "When did Persia become Iran?" is, in a way, a similar kind of puzzle for many people who are curious about history and how places get their names. For a very long time, people outside the country knew it as Persia, yet the people living there had a different name for their home. This story is rather interesting, and it helps us see how words and perceptions can shape our view of the world.

This topic, you know, really touches on how different cultures interact and how one place might be seen from afar compared to how its own people see it. It's a common query, actually, when folks start looking into the history of this part of the world. So, we'll try to clear up some of that confusion today, looking at what the country has always been called by its own citizens and when the wider world caught up to that.

It's a story that involves historical shifts, diplomatic requests, and the deep roots of a people's identity. Understanding this name change helps us appreciate the rich past of a land that has been a significant player on the world stage for thousands of years. We'll explore the reasons behind the shift in international naming, and also, just what was going on around that time.

The Name That Always Was: "Iran" From the Start
The 1935 Shift: A Government Request
Why the Change? Exonyms and Endonyms Explained
Reza Shah Pahlavi and the Overthrow
Historical Context: European Interest and Regional Dynamics
A Long History of Independence and Change
Ancient Roots and Religious Parallels
Frequently Asked Questions About Persia and Iran

The Name That Always Was: "Iran" From the Start

It's a pretty common misconception that a country simply "changed its name" one day, you know? But when we talk about Persia becoming Iran, it's actually a bit more nuanced than that. The people living in that land, for as long as anyone can remember, have consistently referred to their country as Iran. This is a very important point to grasp, as it shows a deep, continuous connection to their own heritage and language. So, it's not like they woke up and decided on a brand new name; rather, it was the name they had always used.

The word "Iran" itself has ancient roots, going back to the term "Aryan," which relates to the noble peoples of the region. This name, in some respects, speaks to the very identity and history of the inhabitants. It's their own word for their homeland, used in their language, for centuries upon centuries. This means that while outsiders might have used a different term, the internal reality was quite consistent.

So, when we ask, "When did Persia become Iran?", the answer for the people of the land is, in a way, "never." They always called it Iran. The question truly refers to when the rest of the world started using the name that the country's own people preferred. This distinction, you know, is really important for understanding historical naming conventions and national identity.

The 1935 Shift: A Government Request

The pivotal year for the international change in naming was 1935. It was in this year that the government of the country formally requested that other nations, and the world at large, begin using "Iran" instead of "Persia." This was a diplomatic move, a clear signal from the government of the time that they wanted their country to be known by its proper, internal name on the global stage. It was, in some respects, a moment of national assertion.

This request, you see, wasn't just a random choice. It was a deliberate step to standardize the country's name internationally, aligning it with the endonym—the name the citizens themselves use. Until 1935, it's true, many parts of the world, especially in Europe, knew the country as Persia. But this official request changed things quite significantly for international communication and recognition.

So, while the people inside the country continued to say "Iran" as they always had, 1935 marks the moment when the outside world was asked to make that shift too. This kind of formal request from a government is a powerful thing, as it shows a desire for self-definition on a global scale. It's a bit like someone asking to be called by their correct name after years of a nickname.

Why the Change? Exonyms and Endonyms Explained

To really get a handle on why this name change happened, we need to understand a couple of concepts: exonyms and endonyms. An exonym is the name other people call a country, a city, or a person, usually in their own language. "Persia" is a classic example of an exonym for Iran. It's an English word, and it was used widely by outsiders to refer to the country. This is, you know, very common in geography and history.

On the other hand, an endonym is the name the citizens of that country, city, or person call themselves in their own language. For this country, "Iran" is the endonym. So, the situation with Persia and Iran was a clear case where the exonym and the endonym were different. This isn't unique to this country; many places around the world have had different names used by outsiders versus what the locals call them. Think about Germany, which is "Deutschland" to its own people, or Japan, which is "Nihon" or "Nippon."

The request in 1935 was, basically, an effort to bridge this gap. The government wanted the international community to use the endonym, the name that truly represented the country to its own people. It was a move towards greater accuracy and, in a way, national pride on the global stage. This really highlights the importance of how a nation wishes to be identified.

Reza Shah Pahlavi and the Overthrow

The decision to formally request the name change in 1935 was made under the leadership of Reza Shah Pahlavi. He was a very significant figure in the country's modern history. His rise to power was quite dramatic and, in some respects, reshaped the nation's political landscape. The name change, you see, was part of a broader set of reforms and modernizations he introduced.

Reza Khan, as he was known before becoming Shah, made his dramatic entry into the capital city, Tehran, on February 22, leading an army of about 4,000 troops. His forces, you know, managed to topple the existing Qajar kingdom's government. This event marked a major turning point, leading to him becoming the new leader of Persia, and later, the Shah.

His rule, which began with this overthrow, brought about many changes aimed at modernizing the country and strengthening its national identity. The request to use "Iran" internationally was, in a way, one piece of this larger puzzle of national transformation and asserting a distinct identity in the world. It was a time of significant upheaval and new directions for the nation.

Historical Context: European Interest and Regional Dynamics

European interest in this region, which was then known as Persia, came primarily from a couple of important sources. One major reason was the British desire to protect their substantial investments in India. They saw Persia, you know, as a crucial buffer zone against the expanding influence of Russia. This strategic concern was a very big deal for British foreign policy at the time.

The presence of Russia in the region also played a huge role. Both the British and the Russians were, in some respects, vying for influence and control, creating what historians sometimes call "spheres of influence." These were areas where each power tried to exert dominance without necessarily directly colonizing the land. This dynamic, you see, made the region a hotbed of international diplomacy and, sometimes, tension.

So, while the internal story of the name change is about national identity, the broader historical backdrop involves these powerful European nations looking to secure their interests. This external pressure, in a way, further highlights the importance of the government's move in 1935 to assert its own preferred name on the global stage, pushing back against a colonial-era naming convention. It was, arguably, a statement of sovereignty.

A Long History of Independence and Change

One thing that stands out about this country is its long, continuous history of independence. From its very beginnings, it has managed to maintain its own sovereignty, which is a pretty remarkable feat when you look at the history of nations. This means that even when it was known as Persia to the outside world, it was never truly colonized by foreign powers in the way many other countries were.

However, while the country itself remained independent, its form of government did undergo significant transformations. For a very long time, it was a monarchy, ruled by various dynasties, including the Qajar kingdom that Reza Shah Pahlavi overthrew. This monarchical system was deeply ingrained in its history.

A much later and very different kind of change happened in 1979, when the government shifted from a monarchy to a republic. This was a completely different kind of transition, marking a new chapter in the nation's political story. But even through these profound governmental changes, the underlying independence of the country, and its people's consistent use of the name "Iran," has, you know, always remained a constant thread.

Ancient Roots and Religious Parallels

The land that is now Iran has an incredibly deep and rich history, stretching back thousands of years. When we talk about "Persia" in the past, it often refers to the vast Persian Empire, a powerful and influential civilization that left a huge mark on the ancient world. The "latest Persia," as some might call it, refers to the existing country, but the connection between the two is very strong, obviously.

Interestingly, the historical texts also touch upon ancient religious practices in the region. There's a mention that, since ancient times, the people followed a religion that was, in some respects, similar to Hinduism. This ancient belief system had gods that, you know, could find parallels in the Hindu pantheon. This detail gives us a glimpse into the very old cultural and spiritual landscape of the area, long before modern times.

This long and varied history, encompassing ancient empires, shifts in religious practices, and continuous self-governance, really paints a picture of a nation with profound historical depth. The name "Iran," therefore, carries the weight of all these past eras and the enduring identity of its people. It's a name that has, in a way, witnessed countless generations and transformations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Persia and Iran

Many people have similar questions about this topic, and it's good to clear them up. Here are some common ones that come up.

Is Persia still a country today?

No, Persia is not a country today, at least not as a separate entity. The country that was known as Persia to the outside world is now called Iran. The name "Persia" is, you know, more of a historical term that refers to the country before 1935 and also to the ancient Persian Empire. So, the land and the people are the same, but the international name has been updated to reflect what the people themselves call their home.

What was Iran called before 1935?

Before 1935, the country was widely known as Persia to the rest of the world, especially in Europe and the English-speaking countries. However, the people of the country themselves had always called it Iran in their own language. So, it was a situation where the exonym (the name used by outsiders) was "Persia," while the endonym (the name used by the locals) was "Iran." The 1935 change was a request to standardize the international name to "Iran."

Who changed the name from Persia to Iran?

The name of the country was formally changed from Persia to Iran in 1935 at the request of the government of the time. This request was made during the rule of Reza Shah Pahlavi. He was the leader who had come to power after his forces, you know, overthrew the Qajar kingdom's government. So, it was a governmental decision, part of a broader effort to modernize and assert the nation's identity on the global stage.

Learn more about on our site, and you can also find more historical context on this page . For additional details on the name change and the country's history, you might also want to check out britannica.com.