Armenian names fall into three families that tell the story of three eras: the kings and deities of pre-Christian times, the saints of the world's first Christian nation, and the words of nature. A fourth category, born of exile, is added to these: names that carry the name of a lost city. Here are 40 Armenian names and what each one holds in memory.
Pre-Christian names
Armenia adopted Christianity in 301, making it the first nation to do so officially. But its stock of names is even older, and it has survived.
| Name | What it evokes |
|---|---|
| Tigran | Tigranes the Great, a king of the 1st century BCE, under whom Armenia reached its peak |
| Ara | Ara the Beautiful, legendary king of the founding tales |
| Vahagn | Deity of fire and war, a major pre-Christian figure |
| Anahit | Goddess of fertility and wisdom, feminine |
| Astghik | Goddess of love, literally “the little star” |
| Armen | Linked to the very name of the Armenian people |
| Vartan | From vart, the rose, borne by Vartan Mamikonian, a military leader of the 5th century |
The fact that the names of pagan deities are still commonly given in a country that has been Christian for seventeen centuries says a great deal about the continuity of this memory.
Christian names
The Armenian Apostolic Church has its own list of saints, distinct from those of the Latin and Greek Churches. Hence Christian names that you find nowhere else.
- Nareg: after Saint Gregory of Narek, a mystic poet of the 10th century and a central figure of Armenian spirituality.
- Sarkis: Saint Sergius, very popular, celebrated on a feast day that serves as the Armenian Valentine's Day.
- Hagop, or Hakob: James.
- Krikor, or Grigor: Gregory, in reference to Gregory the Illuminator, who converted the country.
- Gayane: a holy martyr, after whom the monastery near Etchmiadzin is named.
- Mariam: Mary, in its Armenian form.
Names drawn from nature
This is the brightest family in the repertoire, and often the easiest to carry outside Armenia. These are everyday words of the language.
| Name | Meaning in Armenian |
|---|---|
| Lusine | The moon |
| Arev, Arevik | The sun |
| Hasmik | The jasmine |
| Shushan | The lily |
| Vartouhi | From vart, the rose |
| Siranouch | From sirel, to love: “the sweet beloved” |
| Nvard | Composed of the rose and grace |
| Sona | Short and sweet, very popular |
Names that carry a city
The fourth family, and the most poignant. After 1915 and the exile, the diaspora gave their children the names of the cities and regions of Western Armenia that they had left behind.
- Ani: the ancient medieval capital, known as “the city of a thousand and one churches.” Today it is one of the most commonly given girls' names.
- Van: the city and its lake.
- Mouch and Sassoun: regions of origin of many diaspora families.
- Nairi: an ancient name for Armenia, unisex.
It follows exactly the same logic as Palestinian geographic names such as Yafa or Bisan: when you can no longer live in a place, you carry it.
The suffix -ian, the Armenian signature
It is not a first name, but it explains why Armenians are recognizable all over the world. The suffix -ian, or -yan, means “son of” and ends nearly all Armenian surnames.
It works like the Arabic “ben,” the Scottish “Mac,” or the Scandinavian “-son.” In France, where the Armenian community is strongly established in Marseille, Lyon, Valence, and Alfortville, this suffix has become an immediately identifiable marker, borne as much by Charles Aznavour, born Aznavourian, as by Henri Verneuil, born Achod Malakian.
40 Armenian names
For a boy
Armen, Aram, Tigran, Ara, Vartan, Levon, Hagop, Sarkis, Nareg, Krikor, Vahé, Garo, Hrant, Serop, Bedros, Zaven, Khatchig, Rafi, Haig, Mher.
For a girl
Ani, Lusine, Arevik, Hasmik, Anahit, Astghik, Siranouch, Shushan, Vartouhi, Nvard, Sona, Gayane, Mariam, Zabel, Karine, Nairi, Talar, Maral, Seta, Araxie.
The ones that work best in France
- Ani: three letters, gentle, and a remarkable story behind it.
- Aram: short, resonant, with no spelling pitfalls.
- Armen: instantly readable, and it speaks for the entire country.
- Karine: already perfectly established in France, without its Armenian origin being known.
- Maral: rare, elegant, easy to pronounce.
To keep in mind: Khatchig, whose guttural “kh” does not exist in French, and Siranouch or Araxie, magnificent but names that will need to be spelled out for a lifetime.
The oldest Armenian diaspora outside the Caucasus is in Lebanon, notably in Beirut: see our Lebanese names. And for another Eastern Christian repertoire, our Greek boy names.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Armenian surnames end in -ian?
Because this suffix means “son of.” It ends nearly all Armenian surnames and works like the Arabic “ben” or the Scottish “Mac.” Charles Aznavour was born Aznavourian.
What is the most common Armenian name?
Ani for girls, named after the ancient medieval capital, and Armen or Aram for boys. Names drawn from nature, such as Lusine, “the moon,” are also very widespread.
Do Armenians have Christian names?
Yes, but drawn from their own calendar of saints. The Armenian Apostolic Church has a list distinct from those of the Latin and Greek Churches, hence names like Nareg, Sarkis, or Krikor.
What does the name Ani mean?
It is the name of the ancient capital of medieval Armenia, nicknamed the city of a thousand and one churches. Like other place names, it was given as a first name by the diaspora after 1915.
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