Feminine Armenian given name with a number of possible meanings and etymologies - firstly, from the Ossetian æхсин meaning "lady, mistress", or otherwise from Middle Median *xšay-, meaning "to shine" or the Ossetian æхсид meaning "dawn".
derives from the word akhsen, ‘grey’, or Zend akhsaena which means ‘black’ or ‘bluish-black'. Ashkhen was also the name of a Queen of Armenia and a member of the Arsacid dynasty by marriage to King Tiridates III of Armenia during the early to late 3rd century AD, and is considered a Saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church.