Hin: फिरोज़ाबाद firozābād
‘The City of Firoz’ – City/District, Uttar Pradesh.
From (Sultan) Firoz and Per: ābād, ‘settlement’, ‘inhabited place’
Firozabad is traditionally believed to have been named after Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–1388), who established or fortified many towns in North India. Another tradition links its naming to Firoz, a Mughal officer under Emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1605), who was sent to subdue local chieftains.
The city has long been an important trading center due to its strategic location along major caravan routes between Delhi and the Deccan. During Mughal rule, it gained prominence for its glass and bangle-making industry, which flourished under Aurangzeb. By the British era, Firozabad had become a major hub for glassware production, a legacy that continues today.
Firozabad is renowned as the “Glass City of India”, producing 90% of the country’s glass bangles. The city’s economy revolves around glassware, chandeliers, and decorative items, exported worldwide. Recent industrial growth has expanded into automobile glass, perfume bottles, and scientific glassware. 70% of India’s artisan glassware craft products are made here.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Uttar Pradesh place names.