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Turkish Names for Boys

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Sep 24 2019
  1. Emre

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "friend"

    • Description:

      This Turkish name meaning "friend" should be very useable outside Turkey, given that it is pronounced just as it is spelled. Famous men named Emre include Emre Can, a chess grandmaster, and Emre Sahin, the director.
  2. Zeki

    • Origin:

      Turkish; Ethiopian, Amharic

    • Meaning:

      "clever, intelligent; pure"

    • Description:

      This mini name is more spunky than Zack or Zeke, but shares those well-loved sounds. In Ethiopia, Zeki means "pure", and is pronounced "zeh-KEE", with emphasis on the second syllable. With the rise of trending Zakai and similar names into the US charts, Zeki has potential.
  3. Attila

    • Origin:

      Hungarian

    • Meaning:

      "little father"

    • Description:

      English speaking countries may only associate this with the fifth-century Hun, but the name is still well-used in contemporary Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
  4. Devrim

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "revolution"

    • Description:

      This unusual, in the US at least, Turkish name has an attractive sound and a modern meaning. We can imagine it becoming much more widely known and used, the way the Irish Declan has over the past generation.
  5. Aydin

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "intelligent"

    • Description:

      While it looks like a creative respelling of the ubiquitous Aidan, Aydin has Turkish roots and means "intelligent." While there will most certainly be issues with spelling, those attracted to the Turkish lineage can be assured of a smooth path to assimilation due to the current popularity of soundalike names. The name is spelled with an ı (dotless i) in Turkish.
  6. Elif

    • Origin:

      Turkish and Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "first letter in the alphabet, slender"

    • Description:

      This is the Turkish form of Alif, the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. Actor Natalie Portman gave another spelling to her son, Aleph. Elif can also mean "slender", from the Turkish phrase elif gibi, literally "shaped like Elif."
  7. Abi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father"

    • Description:

      Short form of the Biblical name Abiah or Abijah, meaning "my father is God".
  8. Deniz

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "sea"

    • Description:

      A super popular nature name in its native Turkey, currently Top 50 for both boys and girls there.
  9. Tamerlaine

    • Origin:

      Turkic, Mongol

    • Meaning:

      "iron"

    • Description:

      Although Tamerlaine, especially with the addition of an i, feels more feminine than masculine these days and is occasionally used for girls, the original Tamerlane was a fierce Mongol warrior.
  10. Ahmet

    • Origin:

      Turkish variation of Ahmad

    • Meaning:

      "greatly praised"

    • Description:

      Ahmet is known outside its native land largely thanks to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The original crazy celebrity baby namer Frank Zappa named one of his sons Ahmet, after the influential music executive. Ahmad is a variation of Muhammad.
  11. Bayram

    • Origin:

      Turkish

    • Meaning:

      "festival"

    • Description:

      Though Bayram is not well known in the US, it's a name that easily crosses cultures because it sounds exactly like the English name Byram, a variation of Byron. Bayram is the Turkish word for "holiday" or "festival". Like Felix and Asher, Bayram is a name with a happy, uplifting meaning. It was in Turkey's Top 100 until 2003.
  12. Adem

    • Description:

      Adem is a masculine name with rich historical and cultural significance. It is the Turkish, Albanian, and Bosnian form of Adam, which comes from Hebrew origins meaning 'man' or 'earth.' In Islamic tradition, Adem refers to the first prophet and man created by God, equivalent to Adam in Judeo-Christian traditions. The name carries connotations of primordial humanity and connection to the earth. While common in Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, and other parts of the Balkans and Middle East, Adem is less frequently used in Western countries, giving it a distinctive quality. Its simple pronunciation and spelling make it accessible across cultures, while maintaining its strong cultural identity and religious significance.
  13. Cemal

    • Description:

      Cemal is a masculine name of Arabic origin, commonly used in Turkey and throughout the Middle East. Pronounced 'je-MAL' in Turkish, the name means 'beauty' or 'perfection' and is the Turkish form of the Arabic name Jamal. Cemal has strong cultural significance in Turkey, with perhaps its most famous bearer being Cemal Pasha, an influential military leader during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. The name remains moderately popular in Turkey while being relatively uncommon in Western countries. Cemal carries positive connotations of physical and spiritual beauty in its original cultural context. The name's straightforward pronunciation in its native usage contrasts with potential pronunciation variations it might encounter in English-speaking environments. For parents with Turkish or Middle Eastern heritage, Cemal offers a connection to cultural roots with a meaningful etymology.