Farhad is a name of Persian origin, meaning 'happy' or 'joyous'. It has been used traditionally among speakers of Persian and other Iranian languages, particularly in Iran and Afghanistan. The name Farhad is derived from the Old Persian word "farshada", which is composed of two elements: "far" meaning 'joy', 'happiness', or 'good fortune'; and "-hād" which denotes 'having' or 'possessing'. Thus, Farhad implies someone who possesses joy or happiness. The name has been prominent in Iranian culture throughout history, appearing in various literary works such as the Shahnameh, the national epic of the Persian people penned by Ferdowsi.
The name Farhad experienced periods of popularity with a notable spike in the late 70s to early 80s, peaking at 13 births in 1981. However, it has since become less common, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1996 onwards and just 5 or 6 births in recent years (2018, 2022).