Darius

Darius is from the Greek masculine name Dareios which is a transliteration of a Persian name. It is thought to be derived from Dārayavahush (the name of several Persian kings), from the elements “dâraya” (to possess) and “vahu” (good). Probably the most famous of all name bearers was the 5th/6th century BC Persian king known as Darius the Great – who ruled when the Persian Empire was at its peak (following the footsteps of Cyrus the Great) and was noted for his overly-confident expansionist policies. During an invasion into Greece, Darius and his men were defeated at the Battle of Marathon (recognizing that they had greatly underestimated the Greek’s military power – plans were put into place to reinvade later). These plans were interrupted by the death of Darius. He is still remembered for his strong and wise rule over the great Persian Empire. He was known for religious tolerance, the promotion of education and agriculture and the construction of roads. He also built the great palace city of Susa. Darius has never been a particularly common name among English-speaking nations but it did come into more occasional use in the latter half of the 20th century.