 The Greek name hearkens back to the Old Persian name "Yakhsha Arta" ("True Pearl"), perhaps a reference to the color of its glacially-fed water.More evidence for the Persian etymology comes from the river's Turkic name up to the time of the Arab conquest, the "Yinchu", or "Pearl river".Tang China also recorded this name as Yiakshaet River 藥殺水 and later Ye River 葉河.