Emre

♂ Boy

Pronounced EM-reh /ˈɛm.rɛ/High

Meaning: From Turkish emre, 'friend, brother, companion'; borne by the beloved Sufi poet Yunus EmreMedium

In 30 seconds: A friend and brother in two syllables: Emre is Turkish for 'companion, beloved friend' — carried by the great Sufi poet Yunus Emre. Warm, melodic, and deeply Turkish.

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Origin HighTurkish

MeaningFrom Turkish emre, 'friend, brother, companion'; borne by the beloved Sufi poet Yunus Emre

U.S. rank (2025)#3597 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births31 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 969

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Emre comes from Turkish emre, 'friend, brother, companion' (with Sufi overtones of 'beloved'). It is forever linked to Yunus Emre, the great medieval Sufi poet and mystic whose humane verse shaped Turkish literature. A warm, popular name across Turkey.

In the U.S. it appears in Turkish-heritage families. Rare, friend-and-brother at the root, and melodic.

Did you know? Yunus Emre, the 13th-century Sufi poet, wrote verses of love and unity so beloved that he's considered a father of Turkish poetry; his name has become a treasure across Turkey.

Overall data confidence 82%

Turkish references — Emre — etymology

Variations

EmrahEmreh

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Emre Belözoğlu (1980-)
Turkish professional footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of Turkey's greatest midfielders
★Emre Can (1994-)
German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team
★Emre Mor (1997-)
Danish-Turkish professional footballer who plays as a winger and has represented Turkey internationally

If you like Emre…

Emir— a fellow popular Turkish name

Kerem— a companion Turkish virtue name

Ender— a fellow Turkish choice

Emin— another Turkish name

Osman— a fellow Turkish choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Emre mean?

Emre is Turkish for 'friend, brother, companion'; it's borne by the Sufi poet Yunus Emre.

How do you pronounce Emre?

It's said EM-reh /ˈɛm.rɛ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Emre a boy or girl name?

Emre is a boy's name.

How popular is Emre?

Emre is a rare name in the U.S.