Iran vs. Persia: Name, History, and Usage

Persia

• Ancient Greek/Latin term (Persis) for the region of the Persian Empire (Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid).
• Used by Westerners for millennia; evokes ancient civilization, poetry, art.

Iran

• Endonym from Old Persian Aryānām ("Land of the Aryans").
• Used by Iranians themselves since antiquity.
• Officially adopted internationally in 1935 by Reza Shah to emphasize national identity and independence.

Key Distinction

Iran = modern sovereign state (since 1935).
Persia = historical/geographical term for the same land, often used for pre-1935 history, culture, and arts.

Both refer to the same territory; "Iran" is the correct contemporary political name.