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Home › Baby Names Directory › Yavuz

Yavuz

♂ Boy

Pronounced yah-VOOZ /jɑːˈvuz/Medium

Meaning: A Turkish word meaning 'stern; resolute; formidable', best known as the epithet of Sultan Selim I, called Yavuz Sultan Selim. It is a well-established Turkish given name for boys.Medium

In 30 seconds: A strong Turkish name: Yavuz means 'stern; resolute', the epithet of Sultan Selim I (said 'yah-VOOZ').
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Origin HighTurkish
MeaningA Turkish word meaning 'stern; resolute; formidable', best known as the epithet of Sultan Selim I, called Yavuz Sultan Selim. It is a well-established Turkish given name for boys.
U.S. rank (2024)#14149 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 77

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201119962024

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

Yavuz is a Turkish word for 'stern; resolute; formidable'. It is inseparable in Turkish memory from Selim I, the sixteenth-century Ottoman sultan known as Yavuz Sultan Selim, and the word has long since become a given name in its own right, carried by many Turkish men. It is a name of firmness rather than fierceness (said 'yah-VOOZ').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare here, familiar in Turkey.

Did you know? Yavuz is the byname of Sultan Selim I of the Ottoman Empire — Yavuz Sultan Selim — a word carrying the sense of resolute, unbending strength.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Yavuz — Turkish 'stern; resolute'; epithet of Selim I

Variations

YavusYavuzhanYaghuz

Nicknames

YavVuz

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Yavuz…

Emir— a like Turkish boys' name
Kerem— a like two-beat Turkish pick
Mert— a like strong, short Turkish name
Selim— the sultan whose byname this was

Explore names like Yavuz

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yavuz mean?

Yavuz is a Turkish word meaning 'stern; resolute; formidable', famous as the epithet of Sultan Selim I.

How do you pronounce Yavuz?

It's said yah-VOOZ /jɑːˈvuz/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Yavuz a boy or girl name?

Yavuz is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Yavuz?

Yavuz is a very rare name for boys in the U.S., though well used in Turkey.

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