'Armenian' ultimately derives from ancient geographic and ethnonym names for the region: via Middle English and Old French from Latin 'Armenia'/'Armenius', which in turn comes from Greek 'Armenía' (Ἀρμενία).

'Armenian' changed from Middle English 'Armenien' (and Old French 'Arménien'), itself from Latin 'Armenia'/'Armenius', which was borrowed from Greek 'Armenía' (Ἀρμενία) and earlier Iranian forms such as Old Persian 'Armina'.

Initially it referred specifically to the land or people associated with 'Armenia'; over time it has remained focused on the country, its people, and things related to them (language, culture, ethnicity).