ベヒストゥン碑文
Its capital, Gorgan, derives its name from a wider region known historically as "Gorgân" (), Middle Persian "Gurgān", and Old Persian "Varkāna" (in the Behistun Inscription) meaning "land of wolves". This is also the root of the Ancient Greek Ὑρκανία ("Hyrkanía") and Latin "Hyrcania". Wild wolves are still found in Golestan.