I am one of those people who likes to keep a list of interesting baby names I come across. You know, just in case I might need one. These days it seems almost impossible to find a unique name that hasn’t been done before. Every list of French and Spanish baby names I come across are filled with all the ones I have heard before. Once you do find a beautifully unique name with a deep meaning, you stumble into the issue of pronunciation. The name may be difficult to pronounce or you know that everyone will say it incorrectly. Worse, they may pronounce it in a way that makes the name distasteful. 

This is the exact issue I have run into with Turkish names. I am on the constant lookout for names that are easy for Americans and Turks to pronounce, that sound decent with American pronunciation, and that don’t have alternative meanings in the other language.

The beauty of Turkish names is that they are not as commonly used around the world as French, Spanish, or other European names making them very unique in other parts of the world. Not only do Turkish names carry deep meaning, there are also plenty that are easy to pronounce for everyone! 

Below I have created a list of 35 beautiful Turkish girl names with meanings. Not only that, I specifically chose ones with easy pronunciation for English speakers! While many of them do not originate in Turkiye, they have taken on their own forms in the Turkish language. Enjoy!

#1 Ada (ah-da)

This beautiful name gives off an air of simplicity and elegance and is Turkish for “island.” The name Ada is perfect for those who want something simple with a touch of the exotic. Since Turkiye is on the Mediterranean, the name Ada gives off a classy Mediterranean vibe.

#2 Asena (ah-seh-na)

Asena is the name of a mythological figure  in Turkish culture, a she-wolf. In Turkiye, wolves are a very important symbol of Turkish nationalism, bravery, strength, pride, and agility.  Asena comes from Turkish folklore and legend has it that she was the ancestor of medieval Turks. In the story, the she-wolf finds a young injured boy and nurses him back to health. Strangely, she then becomes pregnant with his children and has half wolf, half human babies which Turks originated from.

#3 Aslı (ahs-lih)

The name Aslı, while a popular name in Turkiye, is Arabic in origin and comes from the Holy Quran. Aslı, in essence, means “the base” of something so it expresses that something is deep in meaning. 

#4 Ayda (eye-dah)

This has to be one of my favorites and it means a plant that grows on meadows or by streams. When I think of this, I imagine a delicate little flower or fern-like plant. If you are looking for an earthy, organic name, this is the one for you. 

#5 Ayşe (eye-sheh)

In English, this would be spelled Ayshe and is a very common name in Turkiye. While this name is also Arabic in origin, it means abundance and comfort. Those with this name are destined to live in wealth and prosperity.

#6 Azra (ahz-rah)

This gorgeous name means “untrodden sand” and is meant to express one’s purity. The name Azra has also been used to refer to the virgin Mary, so its meaning seems quite sacred; pure and untouched by humanity. This name makes me think of the unexplored wilderness that no one has ever set foot on, never soiled with their shoes, or seen with their own eyes.

#7 Beren (beh-ren)

Beren is a Turkish girl name meaning strong and clever. While this name is very popular in Turkiye, it is especially unique abroad with an excellent meaning.

#8 Beste (best-eh)

This is a unique name in Turkiye and has Persian origins. The name Beste means “melody” or the creation of musical work. It became popular in the time of the Ottomans with the creation of new musical works. This name is perfect for creative little girls and has a fairytale-like essence to it.

#9 Berfin (bare-fēn)

Berfin is another name of Persian origin and is very popular in Turkiye for good reason. The name means “the flower that heralds Spring, snowdrop” or “a person made of snow.” In essence, this name means purity and cleanliness; untouched and perfect.

#10 Berna (bare-nah)

Another name of Persian origin and common in Turkiye, Berna means young and brave. Berna refers to a young girl ready to take on the world. It is more rugged than the rest, symbolizing a strong and free woman. To me, the name Berna reminds me of Merida from the Disney movie “Brave.”

#11 Deniz (de-nēz)

Here we have a name similar to the English name Denise. It is pronounced the same as well, except for the “z” ending, giving it a little twist to the common version. The name means “sea” and is another great choice for those who want an earthy, elemental name.

#12 Derya (dare-yah)

It took me until writing out the pronunciation of this name to notice the similarity to “Dare ya!” Admittedly, it sounds much prettier with a Turkish accent, a rolling of the “r”, if you will. Nevertheless, Derya is a gorgeous name meaning “sea” or “large river.” This name is meant to refer to a very knowledgeable person, as deep as the sea and it is a perfect fit for little girls who love to wander and learn.

#13 Ece (eh-jeh *pronounce the “j” as in “jam”)

This is another one of my favorites for its simplicity and elegance. For pronunciation purposes, you could opt to spell this as “Ejeh” or perhaps even “Ege.” This gorgeous name means “queen” or “beautiful woman” and represents the first woman to exist in Turkish mythology. It’s another mystical, fairytale-like name for little queens of Anatolia.

#14 Elif (eh-lēf)

This is such a special and interesting name that comes with its own little symbol. Elif (alif)  is the first letter in the Arabic alphabet and means a “tall and elegant woman.” This is because the first letter of the Arabic alphabet is long and thin. For reference, this is Elif (alif): ا . 

#15 Esme (ehs-meh)

This beautiful name is also of Arabic origin and means “name or names” and refers to the beautiful names of Allah in the Quran. 

#16 Filiz (fē-lēz)

Filiz is a very earthy name perfect for those looking for nature-related names. The name Filiz means “sprout” or “flower saplings” and “fresh trees.” I find this name to be so organic and refreshing, fitting perfectly well with Spring babies.

#17 Gizem (gē-zem)

Of all of the names, the name Gizem has the most alluring meaning. It means something that cannot be understood through logic. It symbolizes things that no one knows and are too profound for humanity to understand. Gizem is a beautiful name for mysterious little girls.

#18 İlayda (ē-lī-dah)

I have been in love with this name ever since I first heard it. The name Ilayda is not as common in Turkiye as some of the other names I mentioned, but it is exceptionally beautiful. Did I mention that the name means “water fairy”? How mystical and serene is that? I love everything about this name and it’s on my list of names to put to use one day.

#19 İpek (ī - pek)

We have another very common name in Turkey meaning “silk.” This name symbolizes softness, elegance, and politeness. When I think of the name Ipek, I think of the Silk Road and the merchants traveling throughout Asia to Europe. I think of Sultans and Kings inspecting precious silk pieces for their palaces and wardrobes, exchanging gold and other fine items for the rare silk material.

#20 Kardelen (car-de-len)

Kardelen is a beautiful baby girl name meaning “snow drop” and is an actual flower that looks like snow falling from a stem. Snowdrops have a deep meaning of rebirth, of purity and new beginnings. This is the first delicate flower you see after a long winter and shows that one can persevere through hard times.

#21 Kübra (koo-brah)

Since my arrival in Turkey, this has been one of my favorite girl names. I personally thought it meant “cobra,” but with further research, I found it has Arabic origins and means “greater, the greatest.” The pronunciation for this name might be a little bit difficult for English speakers because the “u” has a very pronounced sound. Regardless, this name is a unique choice with a deep meaning.

#22 Leyla 

The name Leyla is an absolute classic that has stood the test of time. With an Arabic origin, Leyla means “night.” It also means “beautiful woman with black hair” and refers to a gorgeous woman with jet black locks. This name encapsulates the traditional beauty of Middle Eastern women.

#23 Melike (Meh- lē-keh)

We have another classic here with the name Melike. I know quite a few women named Melike including my sister-in-law. Just like the name Leyla, Melike is of Arabic origin and came to Turkey through the Arabic language. This classic name means “female ruler” or “queen.” It can also mean “the ruler’s wife,” but I prefer the former. 

#24 Meryem

Meryem is the Turkish version for the name of Mary, mother of Jesus. The name Meryem is used for religious women and means “a person who loves to worship.” 

#25 Nefise (neh- fē - seh)

We have yet another name with Arabic origins. This beautiful name means a beautiful thing that is appreciated by everyone. Imagine the intricate gold details of a painting that even the untrained eye can appreciate and find tremendous beauty in.

#26 Neşe (neh-sheh)

In English, you would spell this as Neshe. Neshe originates from the Persian version Nevshe and means joy. If you love the name Joy, but want something a little bit different, this is the name for you! Names have power and naming your precious baby girl Neshe may not be the worst idea!

#27 Rüya (roo-yah)

Ruya is of Arabic origin and has three different meanings, all in the same context. The name Ruya means dream in Turkish as well as hope and wish. It’s another exotic version of a classic English name: hope.

#28 Seda (seh-dah)

You may be able to tell by now that a lot of Turkish names come from the Arabic language. Seda is no exception. This name is commonly used because it is easy to pronounce and has a nice sound to it. Speaking of, this name’s literal meaning is “sound” or “echo.”

#29 Sema (seh-ma)

You guessed it, Sema is a name that also originates from the Arabic language but has been used in Turkey for many many years. The name Sema is very popular in Turkey and means “sky.”

#30 Sibel (sē-bell)

In English, this would be pronounced as “sea bell” and comes from the name of a Goddess. I find this name so uniquely beautiful as it has a few meanings in a few languages. In Turkey, it is derived from the name of an Anatolian goddess, as I said. In Persian, however, it means raindrop and in Greek it means sorcerer. 

#31 Talya

We have an original Turkish name here and the name of another Goddess. This Goddess is the one of spring, of the sea, and protector of nature and animals in mythology. Talya is especially beautiful and lovely for the fact that it is among the easiest to read and pronounce. You will have few worries of anyone saying it incorrectly!

#32 Yasemin 

We have here the Turkish version of the name Jasmine. I did not know until writing this that the name Jasmine comes from Chinese. Of course, we all know the Jasmine flower and tree, thus the name symbolizes the sweet fragrant flowers we all associate with Jasmine.

#33 Zehra

This is one of the most commonly used names in Turkey and, you guessed it, it has an Arabic origin. The name Zehra means “ornament - as bright as the moon - moon faced.” 

#34 Zeynep 

Now we have come to my very own Turkish name. My father-in-law gave me this name and it means “precious stone; gem of her father.” Zeynep is a very popular name in Turkey and is derived from the Arabic version “Zeyneb.”

#35 Zümra (zoom-rah)

Last but not least, we have Zumra. Zumra is a Turkish name meaning intelligent, strong, brave, and courageous. Zumra is the type of name for a heroine, someone with good morals and infinite knowledge.

If you enjoyed this list and want the male version, comment to let me know! As always, thanks for reading.