Turkish Girl Names
175 turkish girl names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for boy names instead? Turkish Boy Names →
Once you notice the moon in these names, you cannot stop seeing it. Ay is the Turkish word for moon, and it opens name after name here like a signature, which is why so many Turkish girl names feel luminous before you even know what they mean. Ayla carries the sense of moonlight or the halo that rings the moon, and it has quietly climbed the American charts for a decade. Aylin belongs to the same family and gives you a softer ending. Aysel keeps the moon and adds motion to it. And Leyla, the Turkish spelling of a name tied to night, completes the picture — a whole naming tradition that reached for the sky after dark.
The rest of this list is grounded and beautifully practical, because Turkish borrows freely from Arabic and Persian while keeping its own plain-spoken vocabulary. Kaya is simply the Turkish word for rock, which is a wonderfully unsentimental thing to name a daughter. Ela means hazel, the color of eyes. Elif is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, a single upright stroke long used in Turkish poetry as an image of slenderness and beginnings, and it is one of the most-given girl names in Turkey today. Zeynep is its constant companion at the top of those lists. For something rarer in the U.S., look at Alara, Aleyna, Hafsa, Ziya and Ruhi, or the spelling variants Iyla, Aylah and Aiyla.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Turkish Girl Names
Ayla#77 in the U.S.Moonlight; or oak tree halo — Hebrew ayla (oak tree) or Turkish ay (moon) + la (light/halo)▶Aylin#345 in the U.S.From Turkish 'ay' (moon) and the suffix '-lin' suggesting a glow or halo, meaning 'halo of the ▶Iyla#525 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Isla, from Scottish Gaelic referring to the island of Islay, Scotland; or o▶Leyla#611 in the U.S.Turkish and Persian spelling of Layla, from Arabic layla meaning 'night' or 'dark,' associated ▶Alara#652 in the U.S.From Turkish Alara, believed to mean water fairy or magical being in Anatolian folklore; the na▶Kaya#966 in the U.S.Rock; from Turkish kaya (rock, cliff)▶Aleyna#1226 in the U.S.Oh, my eyes; expression of beauty or wonder; from Turkish aleyna (oh, my eyes!) or Arabic alayn▶Aylah#1326 in the U.S.Oak tree, or halo of light around the moon▶Hafsa#1516 in the U.S."gathering together" or "young lioness"▶Ziya#1688 in the U.S."light, splendour, glow," from Arabic diya▶Ela#1713 in the U.S.Hazel (eye color)▶Elif#1763 in the U.S.Slender▶Zeynep#1859 in the U.S.Beauty▶Ruhi#1870 in the U.S.Spiritual; of the soul▶Aysel#2064 in the U.S.Pure moon▶Aiyla#2359 in the U.S.moonlight, halo of moon▶Iylah#2465 in the U.S.oak tree or moonlight▶Nuri#2493 in the U.S.My light▶Azra#2659 in the U.S.Virgin, maiden▶Esra#2774 in the U.S.Nocturnal journey▶Ayzel#2884 in the U.S.Pure moon▶Esmeray#2891 in the U.S.Dark▶Asya#3118 in the U.S.Sunrise or the east, from Turkish and Hebrew Asia; also a Russian diminutive of Anastasia meani▶Ajla#3568 in the U.S.Moonlight, the halo around the moon; a Bosnian and Turkish name linked to Arabic-derived elemen▶Neylan#3789 in the U.S.From Turkish Neylan, read as 'fulfilled wish/desire attained'; also reads as a modern coinage▶Kayra#3913 in the U.S.From Turkish kayra, 'grace, benevolence, divine favor'; also a styling of Kyra ('lady, lord')▶Esma#3980 in the U.S.Turkish form linked to Arabic asma, 'lofty, exalted; names' — also tied to Esme, 'esteemed'; ro▶Eyla#4052 in the U.S.Spelling linked to Turkish Ayla, 'moonlight, halo around the moon' — also a modern -yla name; r▶Adalet#4106 in the U.S.From Turkish adalet (Arabic adala), 'justice, fairness, equity'▶Aylla#4192 in the U.S.Double-l spelling of Ayla — Turkish 'moonlight, halo around the moon'▶Dilara#4207 in the U.S.From Persian dilara, 'beloved, sweetheart; one who adorns/comforts the heart' (dil, 'heart', pl▶Defne#4295 in the U.S.Turkish form of Daphne — Greek daphne, 'laurel, bay tree'▶Mavi#4336 in the U.S.From Turkish mavi, 'blue' (the color)▶Ailynn#4546 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Aylin ('moonlight', Turkish) and the -lynn ending; no single fixed root▶Elma#4575 in the U.S.From Turkish elma, 'apple'; also a short form of Wilhelmina or Elmira; routes layered▶Meryem#4611 in the U.S.Turkish form of Maryam — the Arabic/Aramaic Mary, from Hebrew Miryam, 'beloved/bitter/wished-fo▶Nazli#4615 in the U.S.From Persian/Turkish nazli, 'coy, delicate, graceful; coquettish, tender'▶Selin#4630 in the U.S.From Turkish Selin, 'a flowing flood/torrent' (or from selen); also echoes Celine ('moon'); rou▶Deniz#4788 in the U.S.From Turkish deniz, 'the sea'▶Nihan#5091 in the U.S.From Persian/Turkish nihan, 'hidden, secret, concealed' (also linked to 'the infinite, the boun▶Asly#5441 in the U.S.Latina spelling of Asli — from Turkish asli, 'genuine, real, pure, original; essential'▶Sila#5567 in the U.S.From Turkish Şıla/Sıla — 'a return home; rain after drought; the beloved homeland'; also Sanskr▶Asli#5622 in the U.S.From Turkish aslı, 'genuine, authentic, real, original, pure'▶Tulip#5756 in the U.S.The tulip flower (from 'turban')▶Aylee#5802 in the U.S.A modern name with an Ay- opening (echoing Ayla, 'halo of light') and a -lee ending ('a meadow'▶Azlin#5962 in the U.S.A modern name with an Az- opening and -lin ending — echoing Azalea, Aslan ('lion', Turkish), an▶Eda#5984 in the U.S.From Old English ead, 'wealth, fortune, blessed' (a short form/old name); also Turkish eda, 'gr▶Miray#6068 in the U.S.From Turkish miray, 'moonlight; the reflection of the moon on water' (linked to ay, 'moon')▶Pera#6085 in the U.S.From Greek pera, 'beyond, across, the far side' (the Istanbul district Pera); also linked to 'a▶Zehra#6137 in the U.S.The Turkish form of Zahra — from Arabic zahra, 'radiant, blossoming; a flower; brilliance' (a t▶Derin#6205 in the U.S.From Turkish derin, 'deep, profound'; also a Yoruba name, 'wealth/good things are near'; here f▶Arzoie#6395 in the U.S.A spelling of Arzu — from Persian/Turkish arzu, 'a wish, a desire, a longing; a hope'▶Eilah#6434 in the U.S.A spelling echoing the Hebrew Elah ('a terebinth tree; an oak') and the Turkish Ayla ('a halo o▶Evren#6446 in the U.S.From Turkish evren, 'the cosmos; the universe' (also a mythical dragon/serpent of Turkic myth);▶Eylin#6447 in the U.S.A spelling of Aylin — from Turkish, 'moonlight; a halo of light around the moon' (ay, 'moon'); ▶Nil#6549 in the U.S.From Turkish nil, 'the Nile river; a blue water lily; the color indigo'; also a Catalan name; u▶Kayah#7060 in the U.S.A spelling of Kaya — variously 'a resting place' (Hopi), 'older sister' (Zulu), and 'a rock' (T▶Reha#7159 in the U.S.Variously from Sanskrit/Hindi, 'a line; a streak; a star' (a form of Rekha), and a Turkish name▶Ruya#7172 in the U.S.From Arabic ru'ya, 'a vision; a dream; a sight' (also a Turkish name)▶Aiylah#7235 in the U.S.A spelling of Ayla/Aila — variously 'oak tree; a doe' (Hebrew) and 'a halo of light around the ▶Nihal#7471 in the U.S.From Arabic/Turkish nihal, 'a young plant; a sapling; a tender shoot' (a girls' name); also San▶Ayline#7622 in the U.S.A spelling of Aylin — from Turkish, 'a halo around the moon; of the moon; moonlight' (ay, 'moon▶Aylinn#7623 in the U.S.A spelling of Aylin — from Turkish, 'a halo around the moon; of the moon; moonlight' (ay, 'moon▶Cennet#7643 in the U.S.From Turkish cennet (Arabic jannah), 'paradise; heaven; a garden' — the heavenly garden in Isla▶Mihrimah#7817 in the U.S.From Persian/Turkish mihr, 'the sun; love', + mah, 'the moon' — 'sun and moon'▶Parla#7846 in the U.S.From Turkish parla, 'shine; sparkle; glow' (the imperative of parlamak, 'to shine'); routes lay▶Aylaa#8096 in the U.S.A doubled-a spelling of Ayla, a name read as Hebrew ('oak tree; terebinth') and as Turkish ('ha▶Tuleen#8364 in the U.S.A modern name, variously linked to the Turkish Tulin, 'moonlight reflected on water', and read ▶Arzu#8474 in the U.S.From the Turkish/Persian arzu, 'a wish; a desire; a longing; an aspiration'▶Ayse#8494 in the U.S.A Turkish form of Aisha — from the Arabic, 'alive; living; she who lives'▶Eren#8580 in the U.S.From the Turkish eren, 'a saint; a holy/enlightened person; one who has reached spiritual matur▶Idil#8616 in the U.S.Variously from the Turkish idil, 'an idyll; a scene of pastoral/poetic beauty', and the Somali ▶Melis#8755 in the U.S.From the Turkish Melis (from the Greek melissa), 'a honeybee; sweet as honey; sweet-natured'▶Sanem#8838 in the U.S.From the Turkish Sanem, 'an idol; a very beautiful woman; a beloved/sweetheart'▶Sevi#8847 in the U.S.From the Turkish sevgi/sevi, 'love; affection' (also a short form of Sevda/Sevim); routes uncer▶Umay#8886 in the U.S.From the Turkic Umay — a mother/fertility goddess of Turkic mythology (a protector of women and▶Emra#9172 in the U.S.A short name echoing the Turkish Emre ('friend; companion') and Amara ('grace'); no single fixe▶Ezmeray#9248 in the U.S.Ezmeray matches the Turkish name Esmeray, built from esmer ('dark, dusky') and ay ('moon'). In ▶Aaila#9521 in the U.S.A form of Aila/Ayla — variously 'moonlight; halo of light' (Turkish) and 'from the strong oak' ▶Bora#9635 in the U.S.Variously the Korean bora, 'purple/violet', and the Turkish bora, 'a storm; a strong wind'; use▶Duru#9701 in the U.S.From the Turkish duru, 'pure; clear; limpid; calm (water)'; also an Igbo word for 'a king/noble▶Eylen#9748 in the U.S.A modern name, echoing Eileen ('light/bright', Irish) and Aylin ('a halo around the moon', Turk▶Fatma#9751 in the U.S.A Turkish/Arabic form of Fatima — 'one who abstains; one who weans (her child)'; the name of th▶Kizmet#9784 in the U.S.Kizmet is a phonetic respelling of 'kismet', an English word borrowed through Turkish 'kismet' ▶Heilyn#9788 in the U.S.A modern Hispanic name, echoing Aylin ('a halo around the moon', Turkish) and Eileen ('light');▶Ilhan#9797 in the U.S.From the Turkish/Mongolian Ilhan — 'a ruler of a realm; a subordinate khan/emperor'; used for b▶Jeyla#9831 in the U.S.A modern name, variously echoing Jayla (a modern coinage) and Leyla ('night', Arabic/Turkish); ▶Reyyan#10081 in the U.S.A spelling of Rayyan — from the Arabic, 'well-watered; lush; luxuriant'; also the name of a gat▶Suheyla#10156 in the U.S.A Turkish form of Suhaila — from the Arabic Suhayl (the star Canopus), hence 'a bright star'; a▶Sumeya#10214 in the U.S.Sumeya is a Turkish and wider Muslim spelling of the Arabic Sumayyah, a diminutive built on a r▶Adana#10255 in the U.S.From Adana, a historic city in southern Turkey (of ancient, uncertain origin); also used as a m▶Zuhal#10291 in the U.S.Zuhal is the Arabic name of the planet Saturn, adopted into Turkish and Persian. It is used as ▶Ayli#10350 in the U.S.A modern given name in the Ayla/Ayli family; the Ay- element links to the Turkish ay, 'moon' (A▶Aynoor#10352 in the U.S.From the Arabic ayn, 'eye', + noor, 'light', 'eye of light'; also linked to the Turkish Aynur, ▶Beren#10372 in the U.S.From the Turkish Beren, 'strong; wise; the gifted one'; also the name of a hero in Tolkien's Si▶Eylah#10506 in the U.S.A spelling of Elah/Ela, Hebrew for 'oak; terebinth tree,' also read near the Turkish Ayla ('hal▶Meral#10774 in the U.S.From the Turkish Meral, 'deer; gazelle' — a graceful nature name evoking a wild, gentle creatur▶Ozlem#10853 in the U.S.From the Turkish Ozlem (Ozlem), 'longing; yearning; a heartfelt missing' - a tender, evocative ▶Neslihan#10915 in the U.S.A Turkish name joining nesil ('lineage; generation') with han/hanim (a title, 'lady; sultana') ▶Seher#10920 in the U.S.From the Turkish/Arabic seher (sahar), 'dawn; the pre-dawn hour; daybreak' — a poetic, hopeful ▶Suna#10960 in the U.S.A short name with layered routes: Turkish Suna (a graceful bird; 'noble; lovely'), a Japanese e▶Hadis#11415 in the U.S.From the Arabic hadith ('narration; account; report'), rendered Hadis in Turkish and Persian us▶Halime#11421 in the U.S.The Turkish form of Halima, Arabic for 'gentle; patient; mild' — borne by Halima, the foster mo▶Hande#11426 in the U.S.A Turkish name of Persian root, meaning 'with a smile; laughing; the sound of laughter.' A brig▶Hazal#11437 in the U.S.A Turkish name meaning 'hazelnut; hazel tree' (also linked in some readings to Hagar). A botani▶Ipek#11463 in the U.S.From the Turkish ipek, 'silk' — a soft, elegant word name evoking smoothness and refinement. A ▶Mehrima#11747 in the U.S.A name of Turkish and Persian flavor built on mehr ('love; kindness; the sun'), akin to Mehri a▶Sevda#11950 in the U.S.From Turkish/Azerbaijani sevda, 'love; passion; deep longing' (rooted in Arabic sawda). A warm,▶Ahsen#12158 in the U.S.Ahsen is a Turkish girl's name from the Arabic ahsan, 'most beautiful; best; finest.' It is a w▶Alarah#12179 in the U.S.Alarah reads as a modern elaboration of Alara, a name from Turkish legend (a water fairy or fai▶Aaylah#12186 in the U.S.A spelling of Ayla, from the Turkish for 'moonlight; halo around the moon' and separately a Heb▶Antalya#12243 in the U.S.Antalya is the name of a sun-soaked resort city on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, founded in ant▶Asena#12270 in the U.S.Asena is a Turkish girl's name drawn from Turkic legend, the name of the mythical she-wolf said▶Aslin#12277 in the U.S.Aslin reads as a modern name, possibly a softened form of Aslan ('lion', Turkic/Turkish) or a b▶Aslyn#12278 in the U.S.Aslyn reads as a modern -lyn name, possibly a softened Aslan ('lion', Turkic) or a spin on Ashl▶Aylanna#12301 in the U.S.Aylanna reads as a modern blend of Ayla (Turkish 'moonlight; halo', or Hebrew 'oak tree') with ▶Aylannie#12302 in the U.S.Aylannie reads as a modern blend of Ayla (Turkish 'moonlight; halo', or Hebrew 'oak') with a so▶Aysu#12308 in the U.S.Aysu is a Turkish and Azerbaijani girl's name meaning 'moon water', from ay ('moon') plus su ('▶Beyza#12335 in the U.S.A Turkish girl's name, from the Arabic bayda ('white; pure; pristine; unblemished'). A soft vir▶Ceylin#12383 in the U.S.A popular Turkish girl's name, generally connected to Ceylan, 'gazelle,' with a soft -lin endin▶Feza#12557 in the U.S.A name cited in Turkish and Arabic as feza ('outer space, the vast expanse, the heavens'), and ▶Ilay#12622 in the U.S.A Hebrew and Turkish name, linked to 'the highest; supreme; sublime' (Hebrew ilai/elyon) and us▶Masal#12940 in the U.S.From the Turkish masal, 'a fairy tale; fable; parable' (from an Arabic root). A whimsical word ▶Nuray#13062 in the U.S.From the Turkish nur ('light', from Arabic) and ay ('moon') — 'bright moon; moonlight'. A well-▶Riza#13179 in the U.S.A Turkish name from the Arabic Rida, 'contentment; approval; God's good pleasure'; also read as▶Serra#13203 in the U.S.Serra is a well-used Turkish girls' name, often glossed as 'wealth' or simply carried for its s▶Nourhan#13206 in the U.S.From the Arabic nur, 'light,' joined with the Turkish/Persian element -han (a title of dignity)▶Sevin#13208 in the U.S.Sevin reads two ways: as a respelling of the number Seven (a modern word name), and as the Turk▶Sibel#13237 in the U.S.Sibel is the Turkish form of Cybele, the great mother goddess of ancient Anatolia (Kybele). It ▶Zeynet#13409 in the U.S.A Turkish given name in the family of Zeynep (Arabic Zaynab), a historic name borne by daughter▶Zuleyha#13453 in the U.S.The Turkish and Islamic form of Zulaikha, traditionally read as 'brilliant; radiant beauty.' In▶Alanya#13500 in the U.S.Alanya is most often read as a feminine form of Alan (a Celtic name of debated sense, 'handsome▶Aleyla#13515 in the U.S.Aleyla is a modern coinage sitting between Layla (Arabic 'night') and Aleyna (a Turkish name). ▶Aleynna#13516 in the U.S.Aleynna is a doubled-N respelling of Aleyna, a widely used modern Turkish girls' name whose own▶Almila#13525 in the U.S.From Turkish, generally explained as al ('red') plus mila/elma ('apple') - 'red apple.' A moder▶Ilayda#14088 in the U.S.Ilayda (Turkish Ilayda/Ilaydanur) is a modern Turkish girl's name widely explained as 'water ny▶Irsa#14160 in the U.S.A short name found in Arabic and Turkish naming; it is sometimes linked to a rainbow or to Ursa▶Jeyda#14199 in the U.S.Jeyda is a spelling of the Turkish name Ceyda, given in Turkey and often glossed as 'beautiful'▶Manisa#14666 in the U.S.Two honest routes. Manisa is a city in western Turkey, the classical Magnesia ad Sipylum. Separ▶Nejla#14732 in the U.S.The Turkish and Bosnian form of Arabic Najla (Nejla), 'wide-eyed; having large, beautiful eyes'▶Taylan#15030 in the U.S.A modern name in the Taylor/Teagan mold; separately Taylan is an established Turkish name (ofte▶Aleynah#15346 in the U.S.A modern spelling that sits beside the Turkish Aleyna — a popular name drawn from a Quranic phr▶Ayelin#15574 in the U.S.A modern name that echoes Aylin (Turkish, 'halo of the moon; moonlight') and Ayelen (Mapuche, '▶Aylina#15578 in the U.S.A modern name that echoes the Turkish ay, 'moon,' finished with a soft -lina ending. As spelled▶Aynur#15582 in the U.S.Aynur is a Turkish name compounding ay, 'moon', with nur, 'light' (a word borrowed from Arabic)▶Belma#15623 in the U.S.Belma has no confirmed etymology. It is a genuinely used given name in Bosnia and Herzegovina a▶Dila#15856 in the U.S.From Turkish and Kurdish, where Dila is linked to dil, 'heart' — a warm, tender name. Related f▶Ece#15891 in the U.S.From the Turkish ece, 'queen; beautiful woman' — a short, regal name, distinctly Turkish, which▶Hurrem#16147 in the U.S.From Persian khurram, 'cheerful, joyful,' used in Ottoman Turkish as Hurrem. It is the name giv▶Inci#16166 in the U.S.From the Turkish inci, 'pearl' — a bright, simple word name, the Turkish counterpart to Margare▶Elanur#16210 in the U.S.A Turkish name built on nur ('light,' from Arabic), often read as 'light of the land' or paired▶Harika#16410 in the U.S.Harika is chiefly a Turkish girl's name meaning 'wonderful' or 'marvelous.' The same spelling i▶Kismet#16493 in the U.S.Kismet means 'fate, destiny,' a Turkish word from Arabic qismah ('portion, lot; that which is a▶Aylamae#16915 in the U.S.A written-together compound of Ayla - a Turkish name meaning 'moonlight, halo,' also used as a ▶Narin#16947 in the U.S.From the Turkish word narin, 'slender, delicate, graceful'. It is used as a given name in Turke▶Nehir#17042 in the U.S.From the Turkish nehir, 'river.' A flowing, elemental nature name.▶Sare#17212 in the U.S.A Turkish and Kurdish form of Sarah — Hebrew Sarah, 'princess, noblewoman', a matriarch honoure▶Sema#17213 in the U.S.From the Turkish Sema, 'the sky; heaven' (from Arabic sama); the word also names the sema, the ▶Seda#17231 in the U.S.From the Turkish seda, 'voice; sound; echo' (via Persian/Arabic sada). A soft, lyrical word-nam▶Selen#17238 in the U.S.Selen is an established Turkish girls' name, usually glossed 'good news' or 'the sound of rushi▶Su#17307 in the U.S.Three honest routes. In Turkish, su is the everyday word for 'water', and it is a well-loved mo▶Tuana#17469 in the U.S.Tuana is a popular modern Turkish girls' name. It is commonly glossed in Turkey as 'divine ligh▶Yildiz#17510 in the U.S.From the Turkish yildiz, 'star.' A luminous, well-loved Turkish name, noted honestly.▶Yaren#17540 in the U.S.A Turkish given name, commonly read as 'companion; close friend' (from yaren, an affectionate w▶Yasemin#17543 in the U.S.Yasemin is the Turkish spelling of Jasmine, which comes from the Persian yasamin, the name of t▶Yeni#17555 in the U.S.A short name with two routes: in Turkish yeni means 'new,' and in Spanish-speaking use Yeni is ▶Zeyneth#17630 in the U.S.Zeyneth most plausibly builds on Zeynep, the Turkish form of the Arabic Zainab (traditionally l▶Sirin#17793 in the U.S.Two honest routes: the Sirin, a bird-woman of Slavic-Byzantine legend whose song enchants; and ▶Lale#18020 in the U.S.Lale is a Turkish girls' name meaning 'tulip', borrowed from Persian lale. The tulip is a belov▶AylagraceA modern smoosh of Ayla (Turkish 'halo; moonlight,' also Hebrew 'oak tree') and Grace ('favor; ▶AysanAysan sits in the family of Turkish and Azerbaijani names built on 'ay' ('moon'), like Aylin an▶DogaFrom the Turkish Doga (Doga), 'nature' — a modern, unisex-leaning nature word turned name. Note▶NazlieA modern spelling in the Nazli family, from the Persian/Turkish nazli, 'coy; delicate; graceful▶RumeysaA Turkish name from the Arabic Rumaysa, the name of a star (in Canis Minor) and, in Islamic tra▶TulinFrom the Turkish Tulin, 'the halo around the moon.' A soft, poetic nature name, noted honestly.▶
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Frequently Asked
What are popular Turkish girl names?
In the United States, Ayla, Aylin and Leyla are the most-used. In Turkey itself, Zeynep and Elif have dominated the national lists for years.
What Turkish girl name means moon?
Turkish ay means moon, and it opens Ayla, Aylin and Aysel. Ayla is usually glossed as moonlight or the ring of light around the moon.
How do you pronounce Ayla?
Most commonly AY-luh in American English, though the Turkish pronunciation is closer to eye-LAH. Open the Ayla page to hear it spoken rather than guessing from the spelling.