Scholars hold the name of the place to mean "Fortress in a Marshy Place"; a fortress, atop a square plateau, is visible from afar.[1]
Local people argue a different etymology infusing folk-lore.[1] The local Khan commissioned an architect to build the tallest minaret of the world at some place nearby but planned to execute him post-completion, lest he would replicate the designs elsewhere.[1] The architect got to know of this plan, used his resources to construct wings, and flew away from the minaret.[1] Landing at the fortress, he exclaimed the Turkmen equivalent of "Safe and Sound", which changed to the current name of the city with passage of time.[1]