Top Armenian Boy Names With Meanings

Why read: Need ideas for Armenian boy names? Check this ultimate list of the Armenian male names with meanings sorted in alphabetical order. 

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My son’s name is Tigran.  

If you’re an Armenian you know how popular the name Tigran is in Armenia. In the United States – totally unique.

As Armenians living in the US, we wanted our son to have a strong Armenian name representing his Armenian ancestry.

But at the same time, the name needed to be easy to pronounce in English so that our son didn’t have difficulties when introducing himself.

Our boy is five years old now. We love his name! 

And what’s important is that everyone knows he is Armenian. His name is very memorable and unique.

Plus, our son loves that he is named after a powerful Armenian king – Tigran the Great.

Whether you come from an Armenian family and want to tap into your Armenian heritage to name your son, or you’re not Armenian and just looking for a strong unique name for your boy – this list of Armenian boy names with their meanings will help you choose that perfect name for your little one!

 

Popular Armenian Boy Names

Armenian names carry a lot of tradition and history.

Many Armenian boy names come from strong historical figures like kings, saviors, or saints. Names like Tigran, Arshak, Artavazd are popular Armenian male names of ancient kings.  

These are the most popular Armenian boy names for the last decade:

• Davit
• Narek
• Hayk
• Tigran
• Armen
• Arthur
• Gor
• Aren
• Samvel

Christianity has played an immensely important role for the Armenian people throughout Armenia’s history.

Religion and faith helped to preserve our identity and culture from assimilation with the enemy neighboring countries.

Hence, some of the most popular Armenian boy names come from their Biblical equivalents Hovsep (Joseph), Hovhannes (John), Movses (Moses), Petros (Peter), Poghos (Paul), Hakob (Jacob), Soghomon (Solomon), Ghukas (Lucas).

 

 

Names of places are also common among Armenian male names. Some include Ararat (mount Ararat), Sasun (Sasun province), Shirak (Shirak province).

There are also names that convey a strong meaning, for instance, Azat (free), Andranik (first), Byuregh (pure).

And then there are short and cute names like Areg, Arno, Aren, Gor, Ara. 

Armenians also adopted names that originate from other countries, among the most popular are Arsen (Persian), Aghasi (Turkish), Artem (Russian). 

And if you want to look through a list of even more names check out this ultimate list of Armenian names. 

OK, let’s dive in! Here is the list of some of the most popular as well as unique Armenian boy names with their meanings in alphabetical order.

A

Aghasi – comes from the Turkish word “owner”
Andranik – first, senior (traditionally given to the firstborn son)
Ara – comes from Armenian mythology, the God of spring, greenery, harvesting, and later also of war and power
Arakel – derives from the word “arakyal” meaning apostle
Ararat – the name of the Mount Ararat
Areg – sun
Armen – short for Armenak, has nothing to do with Armenian or Armenia
Armenak – the name comes from Armenian mythology
Arnak – brave man
Arshak – comes from the Persian word “bear”
Arshaluys – sunrise
Artsrun – baptized
Ashot – quiet, peaceful
Astvatsatur – given my God, God’s gift
Atom – undivided
Avag – senior
Avet – short form for Avetik, meaning good news
Avetik – good news
Azat – free

B

Babken or Babgen – means “father” in Persian
Bagrat – means “God’s gift” in Persian
Byurak – many springs 
Byuregh – transparent, pure

D

Davit – the Armenian version of the name David, means “handsome” in Hebrew
Derenik – monastery student
Dyutsazn – noble

E

Edgar – means “city protector” in German
Emil – means “hardworking” in Latin
Emin – means “safe”, “faithful”, “confident” in Arabic

F

Felix – means “happy” in Latin

G

Gagik – prince
Galust – coming close, approaching
Garegin – origin and meaning unknown
Garoun – spring
Garnik – lamb
Gaspar – it’s a biblical name of one of the priests
Gegham – beauty
Gevorg or Gevork – Armenian version of the name George, means “farmer” in Greek
Ghazaros (short form Ghazar) – means “God’s help” in Greek
Ghevond – Armenian version of the Greek name Leontios and Russian Leonid meaning “lion”
Ghukas – the Armenian version of the Latin name Lucas and means “resurrection”
Gnel – one of the oldest Armenian male names, meaning “purchase”
Gor – proud
Grigor – Armenian version of the Greek name Grigorios, which means “awake”
Gurgen – in Persian means “brave like a wolf”

H

Hakob – the name comes from the Bible and the Armenian version of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning “deceiver”
Hamazasp – means “the one having many horses” in Persian
Hambartsum – rising from the dead, traditionally the name was given to the babies born on the day of Christ’s resurrection 
Harutyun (short form is Harut) – resurrection
Hayk – the name comes from Armenian mythology and means “giant”
Haykaz – means from the family of Hayk
Henrik – Armenian version of the German name Henrich 
Hmayak – charming eyes
Hovhannes – the Armenian version of the name John and means “gracious”
Hovnan – comes from the Hebrew name Jona and means “dove”
Hovnatan – comes from the Hebrew name Johonathan and means “Godgiven” 
Hovsep – Armenian version of the Hebrew name Josef
Hrachya (short form Hrach) – fiery eyes 
Hrahat – like fire
Hrant – origin is unknown, might be connected to the word hur “fire”
Hrayr – fireman
Hunan – another name that comes from the Hebrew name Jona and means “dove”
Husik – hope

I

Isahak – means “joy” in Hebrew
Ishkhan – prince

J

Jalal – comes from the Arabic name Jalal meaning “greatness”, “glory”
Jamal – comes from the Arabic name Jamal and means “beauty”
Janibek – means “prince’s darling” in Persian
Javad – comes from the Arabic and Turkish name Javad and means “generous”
Jivan – the Armenian version of the Italian name Giovanni and means “youthful” in Persian

K

Kajik – brave
Karapet – leader
Karen – means “generous” in Persian
Karlen – comes from the abbreviation of the names Karl Marx and Lenin
Khachatur – the name derives from two Armenian words khach “cross” and tur “give”, meaning “given by cross”
Khoren – means “sun” in Persian
Khosrov – in ancient Parthian means “having a good fame”
Kirakos – means “state” in Greek
Komitas – means “with long hair” in Greek
Koryun – lion cub
Kyuregh – Armenian version of the Greek name Kurillos and Russian Kirill 

L

Lernik – small mount
Levon – means “lion” in Greek 
Lorik  – quail
Lyudvig – comes from the German name Ludwig and means “famous soldier”

 

M

Malkhas – means “perfect goods” in Persian
Manuk – child
Manvel – the Armenian version of the Hebrew name Emmanuel which means “God with us”
Martin – warrior
Martiros – martyr
Masis – the name of Mount Masis meaning “big mount”
Matevos – another biblical Armenian name that comes from the Greek name Matthaios and means “toast song”
Mayis – May
Meruzhan – means “sunny” in Persian
Mekhak – carnation
Melik – means “king” in Arabic
Mesrop – the name of the saint 
Mher – comes from the name of the Persian God Mihr mentioned in the Armenian epos “David of Sasoun” 
Mihran – means “sunny” in Persian
Mikayel – Biblical Armenian name meaning “God’s power”, the Armenian version of the name Michael
Minas – means “moon” in Greek
Mkhitar – the name derives from the Armenian word mkhitarank “comfort”
Mkrtich – comes from the Armenian word mkrtel “baptize” 
Movses – Armenian version of the Biblical name Moses
Murad – means “wish” in Arabic

N

Nahapet – ancestor
Nairi – the ancient name of Armenia
Narek – comes from the name of the village Narek
Norayr – new man
Noy – Armenian version of the Biblical name Noah
Nver – gift

O

Ohan – short form of the name Hovhannes, used on its own
Onik – another short form of Hovhannes
Oshakan – comes from the name of the village Oshakan

P

Pargev – gift
Parnak – bull tamer
Partev – having a strong physique
Paruyr – circle
Patvakan – perfect, honest
Pavstos – means “happy” in Greek
Paylak – lightning light
Petros – biblical name and Armenian version of the name Peter meaning “stone” in Greek
Poghos – comes from the Greek name Paulos and means “chosen”

R

Rafael – comes from the Hebrew name Rafael and means “God’s medicine”
Raffi – comes from the Arabic name Rafi meaning “proud”
Razmik – warrior
Rshtuni – the name of an ancient Armenian dynasty
Ruben – comes from the Greek name Rouben and means “seeing the son”

S

Sahak – means “joy” in Hebrew
Samson – Biblical name meaning “sun” in Hebrew
Samvel – the Armenian version of the name Samuel and means “godly”
Sargis – Armenian version of the Greek Sergios, Italian Sergio with the meaning “rainbow”
Sarukhan – means “blond prince” in Turkish
Sasun – comes from the name of the Armenian province Sasun
Sayad – means “hunter” in Arabic
Sedrak – means “soft” in Hebrew
Sevak – black-eyed
Sevan – comes from the name of the Armenian lake Sevan
Seyran – means “outing, hike” in Arabic
Shahen – means “hawk” in Parthian
Shant – lightning
Shavarsh – means “black bear” in Persian
Shmavon – Armenian version of the Greek and Hebrew name Simon meaning “obedient”
Smbat – comes from the Hebrew name Shmbat
Sos – cypress tree
Stepan – Armenian version of the Greek name Stefanos meaning “wreath”
Sukias – means “peaceful” in Greek
Suren – means “strong” in Parthian

T

Tadevos – means “the one who praises” in Greek
Taron – comes from the name of the Armenian province Taron
Tatul – comes from the Armenian word “tat” which means “paw”
Tigran – comes from the old Persian name Tigran
Tiran – another Persian name, coming from Persian God Tir
Torgom – means “bony” in Hebrew
Toros – short form of the name Teodoros and means “God’s gift”
Tovmas – the Armenian version of the name Thomas, which means “twins”
Trdat – comes from the Persian name Tirdat meaning “given by Tir God”
Tsolak – shining eyes

V

Vachagan – means “boy”, “baby animal” in Parthian
Vahagn – comes from Armenian mythology, the God of the thunderstorm, equivalent to Greek Heracles
Vahan – shield
Vahe – means “the best” in old Persian
Vahram – means “spring” in Parthian
Vardan – in power
Vardges – the name is formed from two Armenian words vard “rose” and ges “hair”
Varuzhan – male bird
Vazgen – means “descendant of the king” in Greek
Vigen – Armenian version of the Latin name Vincentes meaning “victory”
Voskan – comes from the Armenian word voski “gold”
Vram – comes from the Persian name Bahram and means “stormy”
Vrezh – means revenge in Armenian

Y

Yeghiazar – Armenian version of the Greek name Heleazar
Yeghishe – comes from Assyrian name Yeghishe and the Greek name Yeghise
Yeprem – fruitful, lush
Yeram – flock
Yervand – fast 
Yesayi – means salvation in “Hebrew”

Z

Zakaria – means “having good memory” in Hebrew
Zareh – Armenian version of the Persian name Zarah
Zaven – comes from the Persian name Zav and means “helper”
Zhirayr – active/agile man
Zohrab – means “reddish” in Persian Zorayr – powerful

One Last Thing

Just like the centuries-wide traditions of Armenia, Armenian names come from the place of ancient history and rich cultural heritage. I hope this list of some of the most popular Armenian names for boys will help you to choose the right one for your little one. 

Your Turn

Let me know in the comments which one of these Armenian boy names is your favorite!