The name Görogly was assigned by Turkmen authorities to both the city and the district in 2002 to honor the Turkic national epos Epic of Koroghlu (Turkmen: Görogly).

Atanyyazow suggests that the name refers to a wooden dam and bridge built here.

[2] In the Soviet period it was classified as a town of urban type (Russian: посёлок городского типа).

In June 2016 it was upgraded by decree of the Mejlis to city status.

The same decree subordinated to the city of Görogly the village of Sazakly of the rural council named for Magtymguly, and the villages of Akderek and Polasoltan of the Türkmenýoly rural council.