 The oldest name of the city according to historical evidence is Isfijab (Espijâb, Isfījāb, Asfījāb), which remained until the Mongol conquest.Mahmud Kashgari mentioned it as the "White City which is called Isbījāb," suggesting its connection with the Soghdian/Persian word for white, "sipīd" or "ispīd".Kashgari also mentioned that the city was known as Sayram at that time, the name which the town bears today.