Baby Name Ideas

A name is the first gift you'll give your baby — and probably the topic you'll argue about the most! This guide brings together names chosen along with their meanings, practical tips to make the decision easier, and a few notes about registering the birth.

The golden rule: say the name out loud together with your last name, imagine the nickname, and run the "could a 70-year-old professor carry this name?" test.

• Harmony with the surname: a long first name usually balances a short surname, and a short first name balances a long surname.
• The pronunciation test: say the name quickly three times in a row; if it trips up your tongue, it'll trip up the kids at school too.
• Nickname check: names with a cute nickname win — watch out for nicknames that could become the butt of a joke.
• Initials check: look at what the first and last name initials spell out side by side.
• Know the meaning: one day your child will ask, "what does my name mean?" — make sure you have a nice answer.
• If you're giving two names, decide from the start which one will be used in everyday life.
• Narrowing the list down to two and making the final call once you're holding the baby is a method that works surprisingly well.

Names with roots reaching back to Central Asia that are making a comeback:

• Tomris — The name of the legendary Scythian queen; associated with the meaning "strong as iron."
• Aybüke — Graceful and wise like the moon.
• Umay — In Turkic mythology, the goddess who protects mothers and children.
• Almila — A red apple; from "kızılelma," the sacred goal in Turkic epics.
• Ayla — The halo of light around the moon.
• Aysu — As clear as the moon and water.
• Gökçe — Sky-colored, beautiful and lovely.
• Aybike — A moon-faced lady, a noblewoman.
• Sevin — Joy, happiness.
• Günay — Sun and moon together; brightness.

• Asena — The she-wolf of Turkic epics; courage and leadership.
• Banu — A lady, a noblewoman.
• İdil — The legendary river (Itil/Volga); flow and abundance.
• Toygun — A white falcon (can be used as unisex).
• Ayça — A new moon, a crescent.
• Ece — Queen, beautiful woman.
• Nilay — The moon of the Nile; where water and moonlight meet.
• Alara — An elegant name from the historic Alara River and Castle in Antalya.
• Aysima — Moon-faced.
• Selin — Water flowing with joyful abandon.
• Duru — Clear, pure.
• İlkim — The first rain to fall; freshness.

• Alp — Brave one, hero; strong on its own and also loved in variations like Alper and Alpaslan.
• Kağan — Ruler, khan of khans.
• Mete — From Mete Khan, the great Hun ruler; strong and ancient.
• Aras — Brave, courageous; also the name of a rushing river.
• Batu — Strong, sturdy; also used as Batuhan.
• Kayra — Kindness and grace coming from a higher source.
• Bora — A fierce, powerful wind.
• Çağrı — An invitation; also a bird of prey; one of the founding beys of the Seljuks.
• Tuğrul — The legendary bird of prey; from Seljuk sultan Tuğrul Bey.
• Oğuz — Straight and strong like an arrow; the forefather of the Oghuz tribes.
• Ayaz — The clarity of a frosty night; honest and pure.
• Bilge — Learned, wise; from Bilge Kağan (also used for girls).

• Ertuğrul — Honest, brave warrior; the forefather of the Ottomans.
• Ediz — Lofty, high.
• Alptekin — Brave and one of a kind; historically the name of the founder of the Ghaznavid state.
• Boran — A downpour with thunder; powerful nature.
• Emre — Friend, beloved; the legacy of Yunus Emre.
• Göktürk — Where the sky and the Turk meet; the name of the first great Turkic state.
• Kutay — Blessed moon; auspicious.
• Ilgaz — A raider; a famous mountain range.
• Salur — A sword-wielding warrior; an Oghuz tribe.
• Tarkan — A respected commander's title among the ancient Turks.
• Timur — Strong as iron.
• Ülgen — Lofty, exalted; the god of goodness in Turkic mythology.

Nature names are both timeless and, in most cases, usable for either gender:

• Deniz — Vastness and calm (unisex, a Turkish classic).
• Yağmur — Abundance and freshness (unisex).
• Toprak — Fertility and being deeply rooted (common for boys).
• Çınar — Long life and the strength people gather in its shade (boy).
• Ada — A peaceful piece of land in the middle of the sea (girl).
• Bulut — Lightness and imagination (boy).
• Rüzgar — Freedom (boy).
• Nehir — Flow and continuity (girl).
• Doğa — Just what it says: Nature (mostly girls, unisex).
• Kuzey — The most beloved of the direction names (boy).

Girls

• Zeynep — Precious stones, adornment; a perennial fixture at the top for years.
• Elif — As graceful and upright as the first letter of the alphabet.
• Defne — The laurel tree, whose branches make the crown of victory.
• Asya — The largest of the continents; vastness.
• Alya — High, exalted; belonging to the sky.
• Ecrin — The reward for goodness, a blessing.
• Zümra — Precious like an emerald; brave and clever.

Boys

• Yusuf — The classic of classics; "the one who increases and multiplies."
• Alparslan — Brave lion; from the great commander in our history.
• Ömer — Long-lived, full of life.
• Aslan — The universal symbol of courage.
• Kerem — Generosity, nobility.
• Demir — Sturdiness itself.
• Emir — Leader, lord.

• The legal deadline for reporting a birth is 30 days; it's done at the civil registry office (or through e-Devlet) using the hospital birth certificate.
• At most two names may be given; letters not found in the Turkish alphabet (w, q, x) cannot be used in official records.
• Names that go against public morals or would make the child a laughingstock may be rejected by the civil registry office.
• If you can't decide, don't panic: changing a name later by court order is possible but a hassle — use those 30 days for your rounds of persuasion.

A sweet little tradition: in some families, the grandmother or grandfather is the first to whisper the name into the baby's ear — but whoever does the whispering, the final signature is yours!