The name Sayat-Nova has been given several interpretations.One version reads the name as "Lord of Song" (from Arabic sayyid and Persian nava) or "King of Songs".Others read the name as grandson (Persian neve) of Sayad or hunter (sayyad) of song.

Charles Dowsett considers all these derivations to be unlikely and proposes the reading New Time (from Arabic sa'at and Russian nova) instead.

Sayat-Nova's mother, Sara, was born in Tiflis, and his father, Karapet, either in Aleppo or Adana. He was born in Tiflis. Sayat-Nova was skilled in writing poetry, singing, and playing the kamancheh, Chonguri and Tambur.

He lost his social position at the royal court when he fell in love with Heraclius II's sister Ana. He spent the rest of his life as an itinerant bard.

In 1759 he was ordained as a priest in the Armenian Apostolic Church. His wife, Marmar, died in 1768, leaving behind four children. He served in locations including Tiflis and Haghpat Monastery.

In 1795, he was killed in Haghpat Monastery by the invading army of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, Shah of Persia. He demanded that Sayat Nova convert from Christianity to Islam^{[dubious – discuss]}. He refused and declaring his religion is undeniably Armenian Christian. Hence he was promptly executed by beheading. He is buried at the Armenian Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi.