List of Kurdish poets and authors

The following is a list of Kurdish poets and authors:

9th century

 * Balool

10th-15th century

 * Evdilsemedê Babek (972–1019)
 * Ali Hariri (1009–1079/80)
 * Mele Perîşan (1356–1431)
 * Mela Huseynê Bateyî (1417–1495)

16th century

 * Sherefxan Bidlisi (1543–1599)
 * Şêx Şemsedînê Exlatî (1558–1674)
 * Melayê Cizîrî (1570–1640)
 * Asenath Barzani (1590–1670)
 * Feqiyê Teyran (1590–1660)
 * Yusuf Yaska (1592–1636)
 * Elî Teremaxî

17th century

 * Mistefa Bêsaranî (1642–1701)


 * Ahmad Khani (1651–1707)
 * Shaykh Mustafa Takhtayi

18th century

 * Khana Qubadi (1700–1759), classic poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
 * Almas Khan-e Kanoule'ei (1706-1777), classic poet and author of Kurdish Shahnameh.
 * Marif Nodeyi (1753–1838/9)
 * Xelîlê Sêrtî (1754–1843)
 * Khulam Rada Khan Arkawazi (1765-1834), classic poet and ascetic from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
 * Khâlid-i Shahrazuri (1779–1827)
 * Şeyda Hewramî (1784–1852)
 * Mahmud Bayazidi (1797–1859)
 * Nalî (1797/1800–1855/6)
 * Yaqub Maydashti (1799–1871), classic poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.

19th century

 * Mastoura Ardalan (1805–1848), poet and historiographer.
 * Mawlawi Tawagozi (1806–1882), poet and Sufi.
 * Haji Qadir Koyi (1817–1897), poet.
 * Mahwi (1830–1906), poet and Sufi.
 * Sheikh Rezza Talabani (1835–1910), Iraq.
 * Wafaei (1844–1902) poet, Iran.


 * Edeb (1860–1918), poet, Iran

20th century

 * Piramerd (1867–1950), poet, writer, novelist and journalist, Iraqi Kurdistan.
 * Muhamed Amin Zaki (1880–1948), writer, historian and politician, Iraqi Kurdistan.
 * Taufiq Wahby (1891–1984), writer and linguist, Iraq.
 * Celadet Bedir Khan (Celadet Alî Bedirxan), (1893–1951), linguist, journalist and politician, founder of the Latin-based Kurdish alphabet.
 * Nuri Barzinji (1896–1958), poet, Iraqi Kurdistan.
 * Arab Shamilov (Erebê Şemo) (1897–1978), writer and novelist, Armenia.
 * Rafiq Hilmi (1898–1960), writer, literary analyst and politician, Iraq.
 * Muhammad Wali Kermashani (1901-?), poet, Iran
 * Cigerxwîn (Cegerxwîn), (1903–1984), poet and writer, Turkey/Syria.
 * Abdulla Goran (1904–1962), poet and father of modern Kurdish poetry, Iraqi Kurdistan.


 * Osman Sabri (1905–1993), poet, writer and journalist, Turkey/Syria.
 * Emînê Evdal (1906–1964), writer and linguist, Armenia.
 * Alaaddin Sajadi (1907–1984), writer, poet and academic, Iraqi Kurdistan.
 * Hecîyê Cindî (1908–1990), writer, linguist and researcher, Armenia.
 * Qanate Kurdo (1909–1985), writer, linguist and academic, Russia.
 * Qedrîcan (1911–1972), poet and writer, Turkey/Syria.
 * Ibrahim Ahmad (1914–2000), writer, novelist and translator, Iraqi Kurdistan/England.
 * Dildar, (Yonis Reuf), (1917–1948), poet, Iraq
 * Nûredin Zaza (1919-1988), writer, publisher, Turkey and Syria, Switzerland.
 * Hejar (Abdurrahman Sharafkandi), (1920–1990), poet, writer, translator and linguist, Iran.
 * Hemin Mukriyani (Hêmin Mukriyanî), (1921–1986), journalist and poet, Iran.
 * Ahmad Hardi (1922–2006), poet, Iraqi Kurdistan/UK.
 * Karim Hisami (1926–2001), writer, Iran/Iraq/Sweden.
 * Muhamad Salih Dilan (1927–1990), One of the founders of modern Kurdish poetry.
 * Shamil Asgarov (1928–2005), poet, researcher on the history and culture of the Kurds in Azerbaijan, translator.
 * Emerîkê Serdar (1935-2018), journalist, writer and translator, Armenia.
 * Mahmud Baksi (1944–2001), writer and journalist, Sweden.
 * Abdulla Pashew (1946- ), contemporary poet, Iraqi Kurdistan/Sweden
 * Shami Kermashani (1927-1984), poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
 * Faryad Shiri (1971- ), poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
 * Malak Jân Nemati (1906-1993), mystical writer and poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
 * Khider Kosari (1969–1993) Islamist poet from Ranya, Kurdistan.

21st century

 * Bachtyar Ali, (1960), Kurdish writer and poet
 * Sara Omar, (1986-), Contemporary author, novelist, poet human rights fighter, first internationally recognized Kurdish female novelist from Kurdistan
 * Abdullah Öcalan
 * Selahattin Demirtaş