Armenian names
Armenian names carry the weight of one of the world's oldest continuous cultures, some tracing to pre-Christian Armenia, others honoring saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Names like Ani, Vartan, and Sona survived migration and diaspora intact. Choosing one links a child to a nation that has always treated its names as identity.
Alik Armenian word traditionally meaning wave
Anahit ancient Armenian goddess of fertility and wisdom
Angin Armenian word traditionally meaning precious
Ani named for Ani, the medieval Armenian capital city
Antranig Armenian form of Andronicus; traditionally 'first-born'
Anush sweet; heroine of Tumanyan's beloved verse novel and the national opera
Ara legendary Armenian king Ara the Beautiful of Armenian mythology
Aram traditionally linked to a legendary Armenian patriarch, and to the biblical Aram
Araxi named for the Araxes River that runs through Armenia
Armen man of Armenia
Armine feminine form of Armen: woman of Armenia
Arpi sun, ether: a poetic Armenian word for the bright sky
Arpine Armenian name traditionally linked to the sun goddess Arpenik
Arsen Armenian form of Arsenios: virile, strong
Ashot traditionally borne by several medieval Armenian kings (Ashot I-III)
Barkev traditionally associated with grace and benevolence
Gagik traditionally borne by medieval Armenian kings
Garen Armenian form related to Karekin
Garo Western Armenian nickname for Garabed, the forerunner; worn by NFL kicker Garo Yepremian
Gayane borne by Saint Gayane, one of the founding martyrs of the Armenian Church
Hagop Western Armenian form of Hakob (Jacob): held by the heel
Haig US-friendly spelling of Hayk, legendary founder of Armenia
Hasmik jasmine; a beloved Armenian flower name
Hayk legendary patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation
Hovhannes Armenian form of John: God is gracious
Hovik affectionate short form of Hovhannes (John): God is gracious
Hrach short form of Hrachya: eyes of fire, from Old Armenian hur and achk
Hripsime borne by Saint Hripsime, a founding martyr of the Armenian Church
Karine probably from Karin, the old Armenian name for the city of Erzurum; an Armenian feminine staple (also a French name)
Karo Armenian nickname form of Garabed/Karekin
Kevork Western Armenian form of Gevorg (George): farmer
Knar lyre
Krikor Armenian form of Gregory: watchful, alert
Levon Armenian form of Leon: lion
Lilit Armenian form of Lilith
Lusine moon
Maral deer, the graceful Caspian red deer; shared across Armenian and Turkic naming
Mariam Armenian form of Mary/Miriam
Maro Armenian diminutive form of Mariam
Meline possibly an Armenian form of Melina or Melanie; a soft diaspora favorite
Mher Armenian form of Mithra, the old sun deity; borne by the hero Mher in the Sassoun epic
Mihran traditionally an ancient Armenian noble name
Nairi an ancient poetic name for the Armenian highlands
Nare Armenian word traditionally meaning pomegranate flower
Narek for Narek, home of the beloved 10th-century saint and poet Gregory of Narek
Narine probably from Persian nar, the pomegranate, Armenia's sacred fruit; possibly from Arabic nar, 'fire'
Nayiri the Western Armenian diaspora spelling of Nairi: an ancient poetic name for the Armenian highlands
Nerses traditionally borne by several Armenian Catholicoi (patriarchs)
Nubar traditionally an Armenian surname used as a given name
Nvard traditionally an ancient Armenian name meaning rose-colored
Raffi pen name of celebrated 19th-century Armenian novelist Hakob Melik Hakobian
Sahak Armenian form of Isaac; famously borne by Saint Sahak, translator of the Armenian Bible
Samvel Armenian form of Samuel: God has heard
Sarkis Armenian form of Sergius; famously borne by Saint Sarkis, venerated in the Armenian Church
Seda traditionally meaning echo
Sevak borne by 20th-century Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak
Sevan for Lake Sevan, the vast blue lake of the Armenian highlands
Shant lightning (Armenian shant); a favorite across Western and Eastern Armenian families
Shushan Armenian form of Susan, traditionally linked to the lily
Silva from Latin silva, forest; the most common surname in Brazil, a Portuguese classic, and a feminine given name in Armenia
Sirvart Armenian name traditionally combining love and rose
Sona Armenian word traditionally meaning swan
Suren from Old Iranian sura, 'strong, mighty'; the name of the Parthian general who beat Rome at Carrhae
Taguhi Armenian word traditionally meaning queen
Taleen the Western Armenian diaspora spelling of Talin: named for the Armenian town of Talin
Talin named for the Armenian town of Talin
Tigran traditionally linked to Tigranes, an ancient Armenian royal name (Tigranes the Great)
Vahan shield
Vahe traditionally linked to vahan: shield
Vartan traditionally linked to vard: rose bearer
Vartiter traditionally an Armenian name meaning rose petal
Vazgen traditionally a modern Armenian name, borne by Catholicos Vazgen I
Vazrik modern Armenian name; precise meaning uncertain
Vicken Western Armenian form of Vigen, traditionally linked to the Latin Vincent: conquering
Yeranuhi traditionally an Armenian name meaning evening
Zabel Armenian form of Isabel, borne by 13th-century Armenian Queen Zabel
Zaruhi traditionally an ancient Armenian noble name
Zaven traditionally borne by Armenian Patriarch Zaven I
Which of these fits YOUR family? →