Our Turkish name database contains 18.411 Turkish surnames and 170.335 Turkish first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Turkish name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. Asia is not very well organised and only have a few open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like Turkey have a reasonable quality but are limited. In Turkey we received a name and gender database from the Turkish government and merged it with publicly available data sets. To create the Turkish name database we used 859.767 validated Turkish social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Turkish surnames

This table show popular Turkish surnames. In Turkey, surnames are typically passed down from the father to the children. The traditional Turkish surname system is based on the patriarchal family structure, where the father's name is passed down to his children and grandchildren. However, in recent years, women have started to adopt their own surnames, separate from their husband's. Additionally, many Turkish citizens also have a second name, known as a "soyadı," which is a family name that is passed down from generation to generation.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Yilmaz 14.239 1.7% Dutch German American
Kaya 9.836 1.1% Dutch German American
Demir 9.075 1.1% Dutch German American
Yildiz 7.593 0.9% Dutch German American
şahin 7.537 0.9% Dutch German American
Aydin 7.302 0.8% Dutch German American
Yildirim 7.260 0.8% Dutch German American
öztürk 6.976 0.8% Dutch German American
çelik 6.814 0.8% Dutch German American
özdemir 5.884 0.7% Dutch German American
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 859.767 Turkish social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Turkish first names

In Turkey, parents typically pick a first name for their child based on cultural and religious traditions. They may choose a name that is meaningful and has significance in their family or community. Additionally, parents may also consider the popularity and current trend of names, as well as the compatibility of the name with the surname. It is common for parents to consult with family members and religious leaders before making a final decision on the name.

Popular Turkish male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Mehmet 18.298 3.0% Dutch German American
Mustafa 15.842 2.6% Egyptian Dutch Iraqi
Ahmet 14.315 2.4% Dutch German American
Murat 12.566 2.1% Dutch German American
Ali 11.981 2.0% Pakistani American British
Emre 9.532 1.6% Dutch German American
Fatih 7.894 1.3% Dutch German American
Hakan 7.490 1.2% Swedish Dutch German
Hasan 7.444 1.2% Bangladeshi Dutch German
Ibrahim 7.413 1.2% Egyptian Nigerian Dutch
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 859.767 Turkish social media profiles from which 604.388 (70%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Turkish female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Merve 5.336 2.1% Dutch German American
Elif 4.420 1.7% Dutch German American
Zeynep 3.851 1.5% Dutch American German
Deniz 3.753 1.5% German Dutch American
Esra 3.377 1.3% Dutch German American
Fatma 2.858 1.1% Egyptian Dutch Kuwaiti
Kubra 2.794 1.1% Dutch German American
Gizem 2.482 1.0% Dutch German American
Hatice 2.440 1.0% Dutch German Cypriot
Ozlem 2.281 0.9% Dutch German British
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 859.767 Turkish social media profiles from which 255.379 (30%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.