Your ultimate guide to exploring and writing about Turkey
Names in Turkey are rich with cultural, historical, and linguistic significance, reflecting the country's blend of Turkic, Islamic, Persian, and modern influences. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
No Family Name Tradition Historically: Surnames were only mandated by law in 1934 with the Surname Law under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Modern Structure: [Given Name] + [Surname]
There is no middle name.
The surname follows the given name (e.g., Mehmet Yılmaz).
Women do not traditionally change their surname upon marriage, but they can optionally use their husband's surname preceded by their own (e.g., Ayşe Demir might become Ayşe Demir Yılmaz after marrying Mehmet Yılmaz). Children typically take the father's surname.
Islamic/Arabic Names: Very common, reflecting the Muslim heritage.
Male: Mehmet (the Turkish variant of Muhammad), Ali, Ahmet, Hasan, Hüseyin, İbrahim, Yusuf, Mustafa, Ömer.
Female: Ayşe (Aisha), Fatma (Fatima), Zeynep, Merve, Elif, Emine, Hatice.
Turkic Names: Old and new names from Turkic history and mythology, often revived in the nationalist era.
Male: Alp (brave warrior), Burak, Cengiz (Genghis), Kaan (ruler), Oğuz, Metin (strong), Demir (iron).
Female: Aylin (moon halo), Deniz (sea), Aslı, Tuğba, Şahnur (royal light).
Western-inspired or Global Names: Increasingly popular, especially in urban areas.
Male: Can (soul, life), Efe (brave), Kerem (generosity), Yiğit (brave), Emre.
Female: İrem (mythical garden), Beren, Ece (queen), İpek (silk), Melis (honey bee), Derin (deep).
Nature-Inspired Names: Extremely common.
Male/Female/Unisex: Deniz (sea), Yağmur (rain), Yıldız (star), Toprak (soil), Ege (Aegean), Irmak (river), Nehir (river).
Female: Lale (tulip), Çiçek (flower), Gül (rose), Şimal (north/north wind).
Surnames often describe an ancestor's character, profession, or origin. The 1934 law led to many creative choices.
From Professions: Yılmaz (dauntless), Demir (iron), Çelik (steel), Şahin (falcon), Kaya (rock), Arslan/Aslan (lion).
From Geography/Origin: Türk (Turk), Öztürk (pure Turk), Erdoğan (brave falcon), Aydın (enlightened), Kılıç (sword).
Descriptive Traits: Yılmaz (dauntless), Özkan (pure blood), Coşkun (overflowing, enthusiastic).
Name Days: Not commonly celebrated (unlike in some Christian traditions).
Naming After Relatives: Common to name children after grandparents.
Compound Names: Popular, especially for females, often combining two elements.
Female: Fatmagül, Ayşegül, Gülsüm, Feray.
Alphabet: Turkish uses a modified Latin alphabet with specific letters: Ç, Ğ, İ, Ö, Ş, Ü. The dotted İ and dotless I are distinct letters. This affects spelling and pronunciation of names (e.g., İbrahim, not Ibraham; Halil, with a dotless I).
Name Changes: Possible through legal process, but the state can reject names deemed offensive, inappropriate, or non-Turkish (though this is debated and evolving).
Pronunciation: Almost entirely phonetic. Every letter is pronounced.
Patronymics: Not used. The father's name is not part of the legal name but appears on ID cards in the "father's name" field.
Top Boys' Names: Yusuf, Alparslan, Miraç, Ömer Asaf, Mustafa, Kerem, Ali Asaf, Çınar, Deniz.
Top Girls' Names: Zeynep, Elif, Defne, Asel, Nehir, Azra, Eylül, Çınar, Merve, Hiranur.
In summary, Turkish names are a vibrant indicator of family background, personal values (strength, beauty, nature), and the country's secular yet culturally Islamic identity. The blend of deeply traditional and strikingly modern names reflects Turkey's dynamic society.