Khankendi / Stepanakert

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At the end of the 18th century, a wintering house of the Karabakh khan called "Khanabakh" was founded on the site of the settlement.
In 1847, the village was named Khankendi, which in translation from the Azerbaijani language means "khan's village".
By the decree of the Central Executive Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR dated August 10, 1923, the village of Khankendi was renamed into the city of Stepanakert.
On November 26, 1991, by the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, the name of Khankendi was returned to the city of Stepanakert.
Khankendi (Azerbaijani: Xankəndi), Stepanakert (Armenian: Ստեփանակերտ Step'anakert), and originally called Vararakn (Armenian: Վարարակն).
Population: 55,200 (2015).

According to medieval Armenian sources, the settlement was first mentioned as Vararakn (Վարարակն, meaning "rapid spring" in Armenian), a name that remained in use until 1847, when it was renamed Khankendi.
In 1923 Khankendi was renamed by the Soviet government to Stepanakert (meaning the city of Stepan in Armenian) in honor to Stepan Shahumyan, leader of the 26 Baku Commissars.
After Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Stepanakert was renamed by the Azerbaijani government back to Khankendi.