Turkish baby names can be a beautiful and special way to provide your child with a name that is out of the ordinary and possibly tied to his/her heritage if your roots happen to be based in the nation of Turkey. Many of these names derive from Turkish words and Muslim traditions along with European and Asian influences, which is part of what makes them so beautiful.
Turkish Baby Girl Names
Turkish names for baby girls are typically short, soft, and deeply meaningful. Some female names can mean different things with a similar spelling, meaning parents should take caution before getting too creative. For example, Eda means "good manners," but when you enhance it into Edila, it suddenly means "arrogance." If you are attached to names with symbolism and rich meaning, it's important you know all the variations.
Girl Names A to K
Find lovely names starting with A through K.
| Name/Variations | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ayla Aylin |
A-luh/Eye-luh A-lin/Eye-lin |
Moonlight, halo Of the moon |
| Azra | Az-ruh | Virgin |
| Banu | Bah-nuh | Lady |
| Beste | Beh-s-teh | Melody |
| Canan | Jhah-nah | Beloved |
| Defne | Deh-f-neh | Laurel; Top Ten in Turkey |
| Dilara Dilan |
Dee-la-dah Dee-lahn |
Adorning the heart Love |
| Ece | Eh-djeh | Queen |
| Elif | A-leaf | Slender; First Arabic alphabet letter |
| Elmas | El-mah-s | Diamond |
| Esin | Eh-sin | Inspiration |
| Feray | Fair-eye | Radiance of the moon |
| Gönül | Guh-nuhl | Heart |
| Gül Gülistan Gülten |
G-uh-l Guh-l-i-stahn Guh-l-tahn |
Rose Rose garden Rose skin |
| Hiranur | Hdi-rah-nuhr | Place of Muhammed's first revelation |
| Ipek | Ee-peck | Silk |
| Kader | Kah-dair | Destiny |
Girl Names L Through Z
Select a name that begins with letter L to Z.
| Name/Variations | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Lale | Lah-lay | Tulip |
| Makbule | Mahk-boo-lay | Liked |
| Meltem | Mal-tehm | Sea wind |
| Nehir | Nay-hear | River |
| Nermin | Nar-men | Soft |
| Nur Nuray Nurten |
Noor Ner-eye Noor-tan |
Unisex name; Light Bright moon Radiant skin |
| Özgur |
Uz-ger | Free |
| Pembe | Pahm-bay | Pink |
| Sanem | Sah-nem | Idol |
| Sevda Sevgi Sevil Sevim |
Sayv-dah Sayv-gee Sayv-eel Sayv-eem |
Infatuation Love Loved Love |
| Tutku | Toot-koo | Unisex name; Passion |
| Umut | Ooh-moot | Unisex name; Hope |
| Yildiz | Yeel-diz | Star |
| Zehra | Zay-hrah | Beauty |
| Zeynep | Zay-nep | Most popular in Turkey |
Baby Boy Names From Turkey
There are also male Turkish baby names that are stunning and regal, making them perfect for that new baby birth announcement. Typical Turkish boy names are strong and short.
Boy Names A Through I
Try one of these great boys names that start with letters A through I.
| Name/Variations | Pronunciation | Meaning(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmet Ahmad |
Ah-h-met Ah-h-mahd |
Commendable |
| Arif | Are-if | Expert |
| Aslan | Ah-ss-lahn | Lion |
| Aydin | Eye-dehn | Enlightened |
| Barış | Bah-rish | Peace |
| Berk Berkant Berker |
Bairk Bair-kahnt Bair-kesh |
Strong Solid oak Solid man |
| Çan | Ch-ahn | Life |
| Demir | Day-meer | Iron |
| Deniz | Day-neez | Unisex name; Sea |
| Efe | Eh-fay | Big brother; brave |
| Ender | Ehn-dar | Rare |
| Eren Erhan |
Eh-ron Air-hahn |
Saint Brave leader |
| Eymen | Ay-mehn | Lucky |
| Gunay | Goo-n-eye | Sun and moon |
| Hakan | Hah-kon | Ruler |
| Haluk | Hah-l-oo-k | Good nature |
| Ilkay Ilker Ilkin |
Eel-k-eye Eel-k-air Eel-k-keen |
New moon First man First |
Baby Boy Names J to Z
Select a baby boy name that begins with J through Z.
| Name/Variations | Pronunciation | Meaning(s) |
| Kıvanç | Kee-vah-n-ch | Pride and joy |
| Mazhar | Mahz-har | Honored |
| Mert | M-air-t | Manly |
| Mustafa | Moo-stah-fah | Chosen one; Epithet of Muhammad |
| Ömer Umar |
Oh-mair Oo-mah-sh |
Flourishing |
| Orhan | Or-hah-n | Great leader |
| Semih | Say-mee | Generous |
| Serkan Serhan |
Sair-kahn Sair-hahn |
Leader |
| Soner | Soh-nair | Last man |
| Tuğrul | Too-roo | Falcon |
| Uğur | Oo-r | Good omen |
| Yusef | Yoo-seph | He will add; Most popular in Turkey |
| Zeki | Zay-kee | Intelligent |
Understanding Turkish Baby Names
Just like any other country and culture, Turkey has naming traditions and popular names for both boy and girl babies.
- Turkish names consist of a first name and at least one last name.
- It wasn't until the passing of the Surname Law in 1934 that Turks were required to take a family surname.
- A 2014 law allows women the choice to retain their maiden surname, adopt their husband's, or use both.
- Despite other laws, children must take their father's surname.
Popular Girl Names in Turkey
The ten most popular names in Turkey in 2017 for girls were:
- Zeynep
- Elif
- Defne
- Hiranur
- Ebrar
- Eylul
- Miray
- Zehra
- Ecrin
- Azra
Popular Boy Names in Turkey
The ten most popular names in Turkey in 2017 for boys were:
- Yusuf
- Eymen
- Omer
- Emir
- Mirac
- Mustafa
- Ahmet
- Berat
- Omer Asaf
- Mehmet
Finding Beautiful Baby Names
If you love the look and sound of Turkish baby names, you might want to also check out:
- Unique Muslim names rooted in deep meaning and religion
- Beautiful Arabic baby names that capture the sounds of ancient languages
- Names you probably haven't heard before because they are unique and uncommon
- Baby names that are gender neutral
Get Inspired by Turkey
Whatever the reason, choosing a Turkish baby name means giving your baby a name that's deeply expressive. These short, beautiful names often don't need a nickname so they're a great choice for parents who want baby's name to be used as is by others.
