From ცხუმი(cxumi) pronounced in a Turkish manner, from ცხომი(cxomi), whose origin can be traced with any of the following theories:
It is a blend of ციხე(cixe, “fortress”) and a common suffix for Geographical places -ომი(-omi), because in Turkish the city was called Suhum-Kale (means fortress of Sokumi) and in Mingrelianაყუჯიხა(aq̇uǯixa) (fortress of aqu (meaning is obscure)) indicating that once the city was renown for abundance of fortresses.