Since the end of the war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), more than 700 boys born in Armenia have been named after National Hero of Armenia Monte Melkonian, which is unprecedented. In response to an inquiry from Armenian News-NEWS.am, the Civil Status Acts Registration Agency informed that, based on the data in the unified electronic governance system, in the period between 2016 and February 1, 2021, 1,816 children have been named after Monte. Newborn boys were more often named after Monte after the war in April 2016.
In 2020, the number of boys named after Monte has doubled compared to the previous year. This unprecedented indicator is conditioned by the military operations that took place in Artsakh. In particular, whereas 162 boys were named after Monte in January-June 2020, 577 boys were named after Monte in the second semester, and this is three-and-a-half times more than the number in the first quarter.
After Armenia’s declaration of independence, the name Monte became widely popular in Armenia and the Diaspora. Monte means a peak. One of the military schools of the Armed Forces of Armenia is named after Monte Melkonian, and there are streets named after him in Armenia and Artsakh. Several songs commemorating Monte have been composed and performed, several dozens of documentary films devoted to Monte Melkonian have been produced.