From Proto-Iranian *āzāta-. Cognate with Avestan 𐬁𐬰𐬁𐬙𐬀 (āzāta, “noble”), Manichaean Middle Persian [script needed] (ʾʾzʾd /āzād/), and Parthian 𐭀𐭆𐭀𐭕 (ʾzʾt /āzāt/, “noble”). Akin to Old Armenian ազատ (azat), Georgian აზატი (azaṭi), Iranian borrowings.
Ultimately from the past participle of Proto-Iranian *zan- (“to be born”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁-, originally meaning “born (into the clan)” and, by extension, “noble” and “free”.