Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Turkish names have European and Asian influences, quite like we see in the culture and architecture of the country. The Turkish language is a part of the Altaic language family and comprises three groups that include Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic. Across the vast territories that span from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, over 30 different languages are spoken. With time, the Turkish language was influenced by other languages like Arabic, Persian, and French. Despite its unsuitability as being part of a different language family, the Arabic script was adopted for writing. Every Turkish child is given one or in some cases, two first names. Most of the names are gender specific, but if parents want, they can select a unisex name as well. The Turkish naming format closely resembles the Western naming system, where the first name is followed by the family name or surname (1). The first names are often made up of Turkish words that hold specific meanings. With the introduction of the Surname Law in 1934, all the citizens of Turkey were required to adopt an official surname. Married women can carry both their maiden and their spouse’s surname. In earlier times, most Turkish names were patronymics, which means that the baby was given the first name or forename of the father. Turkish people used the Arabic words ‘bin’, which means ‘son of’ or ‘bint’, which means ‘daughter of’ with the given names. For instance, if a child was named Ahmed and his father’s name was Mohammed, he would be called Ahmed bin Mohammed. It is also a common practice in Turkey for people to be addressed by their first name followed by ‘bey’ for men and ‘hanim’ for women respectively (1). In this post, we bring you a collection of Turkish baby names with meanings. In order to make your search a bit simpler, we’ve classified the name according to their gender.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Buse |  |  Girl | Hawk; Falcon |
| Cahil | |  Boy | Naive young man |
| Can | | Boy | One who is full of spirit, life and heart |
| Candana | | Boy | A candid, sincere person |
| Candanin | | Boy | He is sincere and honest |
| Candon | | Boy | A sincere and honest man |
| Caria | | Girl | She who flows like water |
| Caylan | |  Unisex | Slender |
| Cemre | | Unisex | Fire, spark |
| Cenk | | Boy | The one who wins the war |
| Cetin | | Boy | The one who is strong, tough and hard |
| Ceyda | | Girl | A beautiful woman |
| Ceyhun | | Boy | A Central Asian river |
| Ceylan | | Girl | An Antelope |
| Cihan | | Unisex | The universe; The world |
| Damla | | Girl | A drop |
| Defne | | Girl | A laurel tree; Tall and majestic |
| Demir | | Boy | One who is made of iron |
| Deniz | | Unisex | Sea of happiness |
| Derin | | Unisex | Deep, profound, insightful |
| Derya | | Unisex | Sea or ocean |
| Devran | | Unisex | Fate, Destiny; Fortune |
| Dicle | | Girl | A wonderful river; life providing |
| Dilek | | Girl | Wish; Desire |
| Doga | | Girl | Nature; In love with nature and God |
| Doruk | | Boy | Top of the mountain |
| Duman | | Boy | Smoky; one who is very supportive and helpful |
| Ece | | Girl | A popular person like a beautiful queen; An attractive one |
| Ecrin | | Girl | Reward; Gift of God |
| Ediz | | Boy | Of high position; they have a lavish lifestyle |
| Edric | | Boy | Wealthy ruler |
| Efe | | Boy | Older brother; One with massive strength and love |
| Ekim | | Unisex | October |
| Ekin | | Unisex | Strong, brave, independence |
| Elaida | | Girl | Noble; Graceful; Extraordinary |
| Elanur | | Unisex | Bright light; Sunshine |
| Eldar | | Boy | One who is born to fight with fire |
| Elhan | | Unisex | Beautiful; Handsome; With good looks |
| Elif | | Girl | One with a slender body; Original |
| Elnara | | Girl | People; Country; Nation |
| Elvan | | Girl | Colours |
| Emel | | Girl | Desire |
| Emin | | Boy | Someone who is trustworthy or confident |
| Emine | | Girl | One who is fearless and courageous. |
| Emir | | Boy | A prince or a commander or a general of the army |
| Emira | | Girl | Someone who is worhty or merit; A princess |
| Emiri | | Girl | One who tries to excel; A royal person |
| Emmad | | Boy | A leader |
| Emrah | | Boy | Mysterious; Charismatic |
| Emre | | Boy | A friend who is loving or an older brother |
| Emree | | Boy | An older brother; A loving friend |
| Emrey | | Unisex | Commander; Ruler; Ambitious |
| Emri | | Unisex | Eloquent; Talkative |
| Emry | | Boy | An older brother or a loving friend |
| Enayat | | Boy | Grace; Kindness; Blessing |
| Encarna | | Boy | Someone who is blessed; Kind |
| Ender | | Boy | Brave; Manly; Wood clearing |
| Enfleda | | Girl | The mother of a great saint |
| Ensar | | Boy | Helpers |
| Enver | | Boy | Bright |
| Erdem | | Unisex | Virtuous, honorable, trustworthy |
| Erdi | | Unisex | Brave and righteous |
| Eren | | Boy | A Turkish word meaning saint |
| Ergin | | Boy | Ripe; Matured; Seasoned |
| Erhan | | Boy | Bright; Shining |
| Erim | | Unisex | Man |
| Erol | | Boy | Brave |
| Esana | | Girl | To safeguard |
| Eshaq | | Boy | Prophet's name |
| Esila | | Unisex | The one who is created; Newly born |
| Esmaeel | | Boy | Name of one of the prophets mentioned in the Quran |
| Esmail | | Boy | Name of one of the prophets mentioned in the Quran |
| Esmeray | | Girl | Dark moon |
| Esra | | Girl | Travel at night |
| Etemad | | Boy | Reliance; Trust; Confidence in another person |
| Evren | | Unisex | Universe; Cosmos |
| Eymen | | Boy | More fortunate; Lucky; Auspicious; Blessed |
| Feray | | Girl | The Moon's radiance |
| Feride | | Girl | Beautiful, beloved |
| Filiz | | Girl | To spring up and develop |
| Funda | | Girl | The general condition of the body and mind |
| Galip | | Boy | Winer; Overcomer |
| Gamze | | Girl | A dimple on a person's face |
| Gaye | | Girl | Precious ornament which reflects yellow or gold in color |
| Gazi | | Unisex | Victorious, conqueror |
| Gulizar | | Girl | A girl with cheeks which are soft and pink like a rose |
| Gulya | | Girl | Flower |
| Guney | | Boy | South |
| Gyula | | Boy | Hungarian royal title |
| Hakan | | Boy | Emperor; Ruler; Fire; High-born |
| Halil | | Boy | Intimate friend; Bosom friend |
| Halime | | Girl | Gentle; Mild |
| Hamit | | Boy | Arabic counterpart of Hamid |
| Hande | | Girl | A woman with an infectious smile |
| Hasad | | Boy | Harvest; Reaping; A variant name is Hassad |
| Haset | | Unisex | Joy; Delight; Happiness |
| Hatice | | Unisex | noble, respected, honorable |
| Havala | | Unisex | Stretch of sand |
| Haz | | Unisex | Leader; protector |
| Heran | | Unisex | Beautiful; Pleasant; Good |
Turkish baby names are an enticing fusion of European, Asian, and Arab influences. This blend is mirrored in the culture and architecture of the country. The amalgamation of different languages like Arabic, Persian, and French led to the emergence of names that carry a special significance while maintaining a traditional feel to them. These Turkish names are a great way to honor your roots or simply adorn your child with a unique name. Also, a name that rhymes well with the names of parents could be an excellent choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some Turkish baby names inspired by nature?
In Turkish culture, there are numerous baby names that take inspiration from nature. For example, the nature-inspired feminine names include Nuray (meaning bright moon), Acarsu (meaning stream, river, running water), and Irmak (meaning river).
2. Can Turkish baby names be unisex?
Yes. There are numerous gender-neutral Turkish baby names. They include Aytaç (meaning crown of the moon), Evren (meaning cosmos), Evrim (meaning evolution), Özgür (meaning free), and Yücel (meaning sublime).
3. What is the meaning behind the Turkish baby name "Emre"?
The Turkish masculine baby name Emre carries the meaning of ‘friend’ or ‘brother.’ This name has historical significance as it was held by the renowned 13th-century Turkish poet Yunus Emre.
Infographic: Captivating Turkish Baby Names With Meanings
Turkish baby names originate from the Turkish language but also show the influence of European and Asian languages. These names are intertwined with tradition, history, and diversity, making them truly distinctive in their own way. Dive into the charm of Turkish baby names in this infographic and find the one that suits your baby best.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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