What is "balakian"

Balakian is an Armenian surname. It may refer to:

• Anna Balakian (1915–1997), Armenian American scholar of Comparative Literature
• Grigoris Balakian (1875–1934), bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church
• Peter Balakian (born 1951), Armenian American poet, writer and academic, Professor of Humanities, 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry