Zaruhi (Armenian: Զարուհի) is an Armenian feminine given name derived from Persian زر (zar) meaning "gold" and the feminine suffix ուհի (uhi). Thus, the name carries the meaning "golden woman" or "(she who is) made of gold," reflecting beauty, value, and preciousness. The suffix -uhi is a common Armenian feminizing ending, paralleling forms like Nane or Anahit.
Notable Bearers
Several notable women have born this name across the 20th and 21st centuries:
- Zarouhie Abdalian (born 1982), an American artist of Armenian descent
- Zaruhi Babayan (born 1975), an Armenian singer
- Zaruhi Bahri (1880–1958), an Armenian writer and memoirist
- Zaruhi Batoyan (born 1979), an Armenian government official and activist
- Zari Elmassian (1906–1990), an American singer (name shortened from Zaruhi)
- Zaruhi Kalemkaryan (1871–1971), a prose writer, essayist, poet, and philanthropist
- Zaruhi Kavaljian (1877–1969), one of the first female Armenian physicians in the Ottoman Empire
- Zaruhi Postanjyan (born 1972), an Armenian Member of Parliament
These examples span literature, music, medicine, politics, and art, demonstrating the name's enduring popularity and versatility within Armenian culture.
Cultural Significance
The name Zaruhi reflects a long‑standing exchange between Armenian and Persian onomastic traditions. The root zar traces back to Old Iranian *zarnah “gold,” making Zaruhi a distant relative of names like Zara and Zarina. Given the historical connections between Armenia and Persia, names derived from Persian elements—especially those evoking precious metals or gemstones—were adopted and adapted throughout the Armenian‑speaking world.
- Meaning: "golden" / "made of gold" (from Persian zar + Armenian suffix -uhi)
- Origin: Borrowed from Persian into Armenian;
- Type: Feminine given name
- Usage region: Primarily within Armenian diaspora and the Republic of Armenia
Sources: Wikipedia — Zaruhi