Kayvan (also spelled Keyvan, Kayvon, Kaivon, Keivan, Kaywan, Kavon, Kevan, or Kaevon; ) is a

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

masculine given name denoting the planet Saturn.

Dehkhoda Dictionary The ''Dehkhoda Dictionary'' or ''Dehkhoda Lexicon'' ( or ) is the largest comprehensive Persian encyclopedic dictionary ever published, comprising 200 volumes. It is published by the Tehran University Press (UTP) under the supervision of the ...

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. No other meaning is given. It is related to the word for Saturn in several old languages, including ''Kaimanu'' in Sumerian, ''Kajamānu'' in Akkadian, ''Kewwān'' in Syriac, and "Kewan" ''(kywʾn')'' in

Middle Persian Middle Persian, also known by its endonym Pārsīk or Pārsīg ( Inscriptional Pahlavi script: , Manichaean script: , Avestan script: ) in its later form, is a Western Middle Iranian language which became the literary language of the Sasania ...

. That a 16th-century high priest of Stakhr was named Azar Kayvan suggests that "Kayvan" was used as a name for a person in Iran as early as that time, particularly among followers of

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religions, Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster, Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, ...

. To date "Kayvan" is a popular name among families following

. ''Kayvan'' is distinct from the similar Persian word ''Kayhan'', meaning "universe", also used as a masculine given name. To English speakers, the spelling ''Kayvon'' is closest to the Persian pronunciation, . "Saturday", the day of Saturn, finds its Classical Persian equivalent in "Keyvānshid".

In Persian literature

:IN the name of the Lord of Life and wisdom :To nothing sublimer can thought be applied :The Lord of "Kayvan" and the turning sky :Who causeth Venus, Sun, and Moon to shine. In the

geocentric model In astronomy, the geocentric model (also known as geocentrism, often exemplified specifically by the Ptolemaic system) is a superseded scientific theories, superseded description of the Universe with Earth at the center. Under most geocentric m ...

, Saturn was on the highest planetary sphere, the seventh. As a result, in

Persian poetry Persian literature comprises oral compositions and written texts in the Persian language and is one of the world's oldest literatures. It spans over two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources have been within Greater Iran including present-day ...

, “Kayvan” usually connotes physical elevation or exalted status. Related to this connotation are compound adjectives of praise such as "Kayvan-manesh" (of lofty nature), “Kayvan-manzelat” (of lofty position), or "Kayvan-jenab" (Kayvan's peer). The 14th century poet Khajoo Kermani writes to his beloved: :Neither are you one to tend to my tired cries, :Nor am I one to not let them to "Kayvan" rise. Three centuries earlier,

Sanai Hakim Abul-Majd Majdūd ibn Ādam Sanā'ī Ghaznavi (), more commonly known as Sanai, was a poet from Ghazni. He lived his life in the Ghaznavid Empire which is now located in Afghanistan (At that time, Ghazni was considered part of the cultura ...

is doubtful that just any poet can match his own skills: :Reaching “Kayvan", fancies he, with his arrow? :Mere fancy: mere iron is his bow.

Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (), or simply Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi '' faqih'' (jurist), Maturidi theologian (''mutakallim''), and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire ...

writes: :Drop your business: "horse and cargo". :The cup’s the horse, load the

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...

. :Into the sky then watch go :High as “Kayvan”, your business, divine. It is high praise to suggest that Saturn is in one's service. Khajoo writes: :

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

of the world of the six doors,The “six doors” represent the six directions in a three-dimensional world. Moin, Mohammad, (1997). Farhang-e Farsi (Persian Dictionary), Volume 2, p. 2044, Tehran, Amirkabir, . still, :Soaring "Kayvan" is but an agent of our will. Saturn's other associations appear less frequently. It is the constable of the heavens. It appears darker than the inner planets. In Roman and Greek mythologies,

Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about 9 times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 tim ...

and its Greek origin

Cronus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Cronus, Cronos, or Kronos ( or ; ) was the leader and youngest of the Titans, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (mythology), Uranus (Sky). He overthrew his father and ruled dur ...

were at times associated with old age. In astrology, Saturn is the Greater Malefic, the bringer of bad luck. This last association appears not to affect contemporary Persian-speaking parents' choice of names for their sons. Khaghani, writing in the 12th century, complains: :By the curses of life, on the seventh sky I landed, :Like “Kayvan”: not one cohort of luck, stranded. While referring to Saturn's status,

Masud Sa'd Salman Mas'ud-i Sa'd-i Salmān () was an 11th-century Persian poet of the Ghaznavid empire who is known as the prisoner poet as well as the first poet ever of Lashkari/Lahori (later known as Urdu) as per Amir Khosrow's tribute to him. He lived fro ...

contrasts old and young and good and bad luck: :This child, though great as old "Kayvan", as all appraise, :The luck of the young, like a governess, will raise. Putting together another combination, Sa'di compliments his beautiful and possibly tall beloved. The dark Indian dot on her forehead is likened to the constable Saturn. :On the roof of that house of beauty, your face, :Your Indian “Kayvan” stands guard with grace. Sa'di,

ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...

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Given name

* Keivan Amraei (born 1986), Iranian footballer * Keyvan Andres (born 2000), German-Iranian racing driver * Keivan Ghanbarzadeh (born 1990), Iranian high jumper * Kayvan Khalatbari (born 1983), American entrepreneur * Keyvan Khosrovani (born 1938), Iranian architect, lighting designer, fashion designer and couturier * Keyvan Jenkins (born 1961), American gridiron football player * Kaevon Merriweather (born 1999), American football player * Kayvan Mirhadi (born 1960), Iranian composer * Kayvan Najarian, Iranian scientist * Kayvan Novak (born 1978), British actor * Adrian Kayvan Pasdar (born 1965), American actor and film director * Keyvan Rafiee, Iranian political activist * Keywan Riahi, Austrian resident * Keivan Saket (born 1961), Iranian composer * Keyvan Shovir (born 1985), Iranian-born American street artist * Keivan Stassun (born 1972), American physicist and astronomer * Kayvon Thibodeaux (born 2000), American football player * Keyvan Vahdani (1991-2019), Iranian footballer * Kayvon Webster (born 1991), American football player * Kayvon Zand, American musician * Keivan Zarineh (born 1985), former Italian-Iranian professional footballer

Surname

* Anthony Keyvan (born 2000), American actor * Azar Kayvan (1529–1609), a Zoroastrian high priest of Istakhr * Morteza Keyvan (1921-1954), Iranian poet, art critic, newspaper editor and political activist

References

{{Given name, type=both Persian masculine given names Masculine given names Saturn in culture

In Persian literature

Given name

Surname

See also

References