The Most Popular Turkish Girl Names
In this article, you'll find an extensive list of Turkish baby girl names. It covers traditional Turkish girl names, more modern Turkish girl names, common Turkish girl names and the most popular first names for girls in Turkey over the last 100 years.
Turkish girl names: afiyet olsun
Picture this: the smell of freshly cooked lentils fills the kitchen while the Mercimek Çorbası (lentil soup) steams on the table. In the oven, the börek is baking until golden and crisp, and a pot of dolma (vine leaves stuffed with devotion) is waiting to be served. These homemade dishes, made with so much care and love, taste wonderful and stand for the warmth and tradition so deeply rooted in Turkish culture. After all, the way to the heart is through the stomach, in Turkey as much as anywhere, maybe even more.
Just like these dishes, passed down from generation to generation, Turkish girl names carry a similar meaning. They are an extra helping of history, tradition and emotion, and like the best family recipes, they stay timeless and full of flavor.
Traditional Turkish girl names
Just like dishes that need time to develop their full aroma and flavor, Turkish girl names develop their deep meaning and beauty over generations. They are rich in tradition and reflect the values held dear in Turkish culture (and in its kitchens). Here is a selection of traditional girl names and their meanings.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aslı | Truth or the original one |
| Aylin | She who shines like the moon |
| Banu | Princess |
| Cemre | Warm breeze that ends winter |
| Derya | Sea or vast expanse |
| Elif | Slender and tall |
| Esra | The fastest one |
| Feride | Unique or the incomparable one |
| Gül | Rose |
| Leyla | Night or dark |
| Melek | Angel |
| Nazan | The proud one |
| Özlem | Longing or desire |
| Selin | Flowing water or strong |
| Sevda | Love or passion |
| Sibel | Raindrop or gentle wind |
| Yasemin | Jasmine blossom |
| Zeynep | Jewel or precious gift |
The traditional Turkish girl names above belong to plenty of grandmothers, and they are a lovely choice for parents who want to give their newborn something special with a more classic name, like the perfectly balanced spice that gives a tried-and-true recipe its finishing touch.
Modern Turkish girl names
Just as yogurt adds a fresh note to many traditional Turkish dishes, modern Turkish girl names bring a new lightness to the tough decision of choosing a name. These names feel current without losing the deep cultural meaning that has shaped Turkey for generations. In the list below, you'll find some of these modern Turkish girl names and their meanings.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Alara | Fairy-tale water nymph |
| Aylin | In the glow of the moon |
| Defne | Laurel tree |
| Eylül | September |
| Işıl | Sparkling, shining |
| Mavi | Blue |
| Mira | Princess, admirable |
| Nehir | River |
| Serra | Light, carefree |
| Yelda | Long winter evening |
Imagine strolling through a farmers market that has been there for generations, picking up fresh fruit and vegetables: that's exactly how these modern Turkish girl names work. They capture the spirit of the times while keeping their roots firmly in the ground.
About Lottili
Born and raised in Berlin, Lottili works with experts to develop automatic baby hammocks for better baby sleep. Here you can find out more about our baby hammocks and how they help everyone unwind.
Loved by parents, recommended by midwives.
Common Turkish girl names
Just like bulgur, a versatile staple of Turkish cooking, some girl names come up again and again at Turkish tables. They are timeless yet adaptable, and they answer the longing Turkish parents feel when choosing a name. Below, you'll find some of these common Turkish girl names and their meanings.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Beyza | White, pure |
| Buse | Kiss |
| Derya | Sea, ocean |
| Elif | Slender like the first letter of the Arabic alphabet |
| Esra | Fast, nimble |
| İrem | Garden of paradise |
| Melike | Queen |
| Nur | Light, radiant |
| Selin | Clear, pure |
| Sude | Pure rain |
The list of common Turkish girl names above is a perfect example of a "chef's kiss," or in this case, Buse (Turkish for "kiss").
Most popular Turkish girl names of the last 100 years
Like recipes handed down by grandmothers over generations, certain Turkish girl names have stood the test of time. They are firmly rooted in tradition and carry a cultural meaning that has held steady over the years. The most popular Turkish girl names of the last 100 years, "prepared" as lovingly as a Turkish grandma's dishes, have outlasted the decades and kept their special flavor to this day.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aysel | Full moon |
| Canan | Beloved |
| Emine | Trustworthy |
| Fatma | Peacemaker |
| Gül | Rose |
| Havva | Living |
| Rabia | Beginning of spring |
| Sibel | Youth, freshness |
| Yasemin | Jasmine blossom |
| Zeynep | Precious as a gemstone |
These popular Turkish girl names are like a delicious mezze platter that brings young and old together and puts a whole range of stories and traditions on the table.
The Baby Hammock Set to Rent
Sleep for your baby, time for you.
Our set is also available to rent. Maybe renting is right for you!
Our top 100 Turkish girl names
If none of our Turkish girl names has won you over yet, here are 100 more Turkish baby girl names and their meanings.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ada | Island |
| Açelya | Azalea |
| Afra | White, pure |
| Aleyna | May blessings be upon us |
| Alara | Fairy-tale water nymph |
| Alev | Flame |
| Arzu | Wish |
| Aslı | Truth or the original one |
| Asuman | Sky |
| Ayça | Crescent moon |
| Aylin | She who shines like the moon |
| Ayşegül | Living rose |
| Aysel | Full moon |
| Başak | Ear of grain |
| Banu | Princess |
| Berfin | Snow |
| Beyza | White, pure |
| Buket | Bouquet |
| Buse | Kiss |
| Canan | Beloved |
| Cemre | Warm breeze that ends winter |
| Ceren | Gazelle |
| Çiğdem | Crocus flower |
| Defne | Laurel tree |
| Derya | Sea or vast expanse |
| Dilara | Delighting the heart |
| Dilşad | Glad of heart |
| Ebru | Cloud pattern |
| Ece | Queen |
| Elif | Slender and tall |
| Emine | Trustworthy |
| Esen | Breeze |
| Eylül | September |
| Esra | The fastest one |
| Fatma | Peacemaker |
| Feride | Unique or the incomparable one |
| Fidan | Sapling |
| Figen | Fig tree |
| Filiz | Shoot, sprout |
| Füsun | Magic, charm |
| Gamze | Dimple |
| Gizem | Secret |
| Gönül | Heart, soul |
| Gül | Rose |
| Gülsüm | Rose lips |
| Havva | Living |
| Hümeyra | Reddish |
| İrem | Garden of paradise |
| Jale | Morning dew |
| Kumru | Dove |
| Lale | Tulip |
| Lina | Gentle, delicate |
| Manolya | Magnolia flower |
| Mavi | Blue |
| Melike | Queen |
| Melek | Angel |
| Menekşe | Violet |
| Mira | Princess, admirable |
| Müge | Lily of the valley |
| Nazan | The proud one |
| Necla | Distinguished |
| Nehir | River |
| Nihan | Mysterious |
| Nur | Light, radiant |
| Özlem | Longing or desire |
| Pelin | Wormwood |
| Perihan | Queen of the fairies |
| Rabia | Beginning of spring |
| Rana | Eye-catcher |
| Reyhan | Basil |
| Rüya | Dream |
| Seher | Dawn |
| Selin | Flowing water or strong |
| Serra | Light, carefree |
| Sevda | Love or passion |
| Sibel | Raindrop or gentle wind |
| Şirin | Pretty, cute |
| Şule | Flame |
| Sude | Pure rain |
| Tuba | Tree of paradise |
| Tuğçe | Crown |
| Umay | Goddess of fortune |
| Ümran | Prosperity |
| Vildan | Birth |
| Yeşim | Jade |
| Yasemin | Jasmine blossom |
| Yaren | Friend |
| Yelda | Long winter evening |
| Zehra | Shining |
| Zerrin | Golden |
| Zeynep | Jewel or precious gift |
| Zümra | Gemstone |
Final thoughts on Turkish girl names
When it comes to Turkish girl names, the recipe for success is a simple one. Take a pinch of history, tradition and emotion, and you've served up a beautiful name.
But in the end, Turkish girl names are like any secret family recipe. No matter how carefully you keep them, they will always change a little over time. That's why we at Lottili are curious to see which Turkish girl names everyone will be talking about in the coming years.
Sources:
You can find the source for the Turkish name statistics here:
