Asha - in Proper Names

In Proper Names

"Arta- (Mid. Iranian ard-), representing either the Av. divinity Aša or the principle aša, occurs frequently as an element in Iranian personal names."

Hellenized/Latinized names include:

• Artabanos (Greek, Latin Artabanus, Modern Persian اردوان Ardavān), from *Artabānu "glory of arta".
• Artabazanes (Latin) a variant of either Artabazus or Artabrzana
• Artabazus, Artabazos (Greek, Latin Artavasdes), attested as Avestan Ashavazdah, perhaps meaning "powerful/persevering through arta"
• Artabrzana (Greek), from *Artabrzana "exalting arta"
• Artaphrenes (Greek), either from Artamainyu "spirit of arta" (phrene: Greek 'spirit') or a corruption of Artafarnah " Glory of arta"
• Artasyras (Greek), from *Artasura, "powerful through arta"
• Artaxata, Artaxiasata (Greek, Armenian Artashat), meaning "joy of arta".
• Artaxias (Greek, Armenian Artashes), from an Aramaic form of Artaxšacā (Artaxerxes, see below).
• Artaxerxes (Latin, variant Artoxerxes, Greek Artaxesses), a compound of Arta and Xerxes, the latter not being a part of the original Old Persian Artaxšacā, "whose reign is through arta" or "dominion of arta."
• Artazostre (Greek), from *Artazaushri "who is in favor of arta" or "who takes delight in arta"
• Artembares (Greek), from *Artempara "who encourages arta" or "who furthers arta."

Other names include:

• Artavardiya (Old Persian) and Irdumardiya (Elamite), meaning "doer of Justice"
• Arda Viraz, the "righteous Viraz" (having an eschatological connotation)
• Ardeshir, Middle Persian form of Old Persian Artaxšacā (i.e. Artaxerxes), literally "whose reign is through arta"; actually means "Holy Kingship".

Middle Iranian ard- is also suggested to be the root of names of the current day Iranian cities of Ardabil, Ardekan, Ardehal and Ardestan.