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Elif

♀ Girl

Pronounced eh-LEEF /e.ˈlif/Medium

Meaning: SlenderMedium

In 30 seconds: Elif is a Turkish girl's name meaning 'slender'. It is also the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, which is tall and straight, lending the name its sense of grace.
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Origin MediumTurkish
MeaningSlender
U.S. rank (2024)#1763 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births114 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,429

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419772024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

In Turkish, Elif carries the meaning 'slender', an image drawn from the upright, single-stroke shape of the letter elif. The name is a long-standing favorite across Turkey, valued for being short, soft, and easy to say. Its meaning ties the sound directly to a picture of slimness and uprightness.

Elif belongs firmly to Turkish naming and is widely worn there; bearers include the wrestler Elif Jale Yeşilırmak and the writer Elif Shafak. The name's two gentle syllables give it a quiet, balanced feel.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Elif is 'slender', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Elif — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Elif Jale Yeşilırmak (1986–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Elif Shafak (1971–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Elif…

Aleyna— A popular Turkish girl's name with the same soft, flowing sound as Elif.
Zeynep— Shares Elif's place among the most-loved Turkish girls' names.
Ela— A short Turkish girl's name with the same gentle two-letter opening as Elif.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Elif mean?

Elif is usually explained as meaning 'slender' and is most often linked with Turkish tradition.

How do you pronounce Elif?

It's commonly said eh-LEEF /e.ˈlif/.

Is Elif a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Elif is used as a girl name.

How popular is Elif?

In 2024, Elif ranked #1763 in the U.S. for girls, with 114 births recorded.