Setareh is a Persian name meaning 'star'.
Setareh (ستاره) is a classical Persian name meaning simply and beautifully "star." Its roots lie in ancient Iranian languages, and the word "setareh" remains the standard term for star in modern Farsi today, giving the name a rare quality: it is both a proper name and a living, ordinary word, so that every time someone speaks Persian, they speak a version of this name without knowing it. In the Persian poetic tradition — one of the world's great literary heritages — stars carry enormous symbolic weight, representing divine light, fate, guidance, and the beloved's eyes shining in darkness.
The name appears throughout Persian literature and is associated with the mystical romantic poetry of Rumi, Hafez, and Sa'di, where stars frequently stand as metaphors for the soul's longing toward the divine. Setareh has been borne by notable Iranian scholars, artists, and public figures, and remains a beloved name across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, as well as among diaspora communities worldwide. Its popularity has held steady precisely because it never feels dated — a name that simply means "star" belongs to every era.
In the West, Setareh has gained a gentle foothold among families of Persian heritage who wish to honor their cultural roots while giving their daughter a name that is genuinely beautiful to any ear. English speakers find it melodic and pronounceable — roughly "seh-TAH-reh" — and its meaning places it naturally alongside the modern vogue for celestial names like Stella, Estelle, and Star. It carries the full weight of a literary civilization's love for the night sky.