Ani

Ani is a term with multiple references in geography and personal names, used in various languages and cultures. It is most prominently known as the ancient capital of the Bagratid Armenian Kingdom, a medieval city that flourished on the Aras River near the border area of present-day Turkey and Armenia. Located on a hill and serving at times as a major crossroads between Byzantium and the Islamic world, the city earned the nickname the City of 1001 Churches. Its ruins include churches, a cathedral, a caravanserai, and defensive walls, reflecting its role as a religious and administrative center. The city declined after a sequence of invasions, earthquakes, and political changes in the 11th and 12th centuries, and it was eventually abandoned. Today the site, near Doğubeyazıt in Ağrı Province, Turkey, is a well-known archaeological and tourist location.

As a given name, Ani is used in several cultures and languages, most commonly as a feminine name. Its use spans Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, parts of Georgia and Turkey, and some Indian and East Asian communities. The name is often taken as a standalone given name and carries various etymologies and associations across language areas.

In reference works, Ani may also appear as an acronym or shorthand in different contexts, but the most enduring senses remain the historical Armenian city and the given name.