Is it ok to use this name with no Persian ties?
Personally I wouldn’t do it, but I am not someone with a cultural background connected to this name so don’t feel fully qualified to speak on it.
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I can’t answer that question as I have no ties with the culture, just wanted to remind that Persian ≠ Arabic
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Thank you for speaking on this, you actually informed me of something I had been ignorant on 
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Personally - As a white person, I would never use a name that is traditional in other (non-white) cultures, nor would I use names with certain meanings (for example [name_f]Ebony[/name_f] or India).
More generally - I think you’d be setting up your child for a lifetime of questions and misunderstandings.
I think it’s generally accepted to use names from other European languages/cultures you don’t belong to (I can name my child [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] even though I’m not Irish and I don’t think anyone would criticize me) but otherwise it’s quite controversial or at very least a grey area.
Obviously nobody can stop you from choosing whatever name you want for your child but you have to be prepared for the backlash/criticism that may come with it.
I cannot speak for other people/cultures but if someone had a name that is traditional in my (other) language I’d be asking questions.
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It made me think of using [name_f]Anahera[/name_f] with no Maori ties. I think it is doable, even more positive if you are informed of any cultural surrounds. I would think @katinka would be a good person to get an opinion from.
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I think it’s ok to use the name. For instance, you don’t have to be Russian to name your child [name_f]Yekaterina[/name_f]. It’s less common to do this sure, and the name may bring up more curious questions, but if you enjoy the name, why not embrace it? It sounds like a very beautiful and pleasant name.
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I’m not sure if there are many Iranians who use Nameberry so this may not be the best place to ask. I would suggest asking someone within the Iranian community living in your area. Also, I don’t mean this in a bad way but please educate yourself about Iranian culture before using a Persian name. I believe the name [name_f]Anahita[/name_f] specifically comes from the Zoroastrian religion so I would suggest reading about it as well.
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Personally I wouldn’t use a name from a culture you know nothing about. I don’t want to be mean, and it’s a common mistake, but if you don’t know that Persian and Arabic aren’t the same, I definitely wouldn’t use a name from either of those cultures.
But if you really have your heart set on this name, I’d start by asking someone who is from that culture for an opinion and educate yourself on everything to do with Persian culture.
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