Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

Category group·993 surnames

Character, virtue and appearance

Surnames
993
in this dictionary
In the national top 30
64
ADNKS 2025
Most common
Yılmaz
People
1,177,8964
Yılmaz

How did these surnames come about?

At the very top of the list stands not a noun but a verb form. Yılmaz is the negative aorist of yılmak, “to lose heart”: “one who does not lose heart, undaunted”. In TÜİK ADNKS 2025, Yılmaz ranks 1st nationally with 1,177,896 bearers. That one example sums up how the character group works: these surnames name a quality, not a thing.

Six subgroups

  • Courage and resilience: Yılmaz, Korkmaz, Çetin, Sarp, Yürekli.
  • Virtue and integrity: Erdem, Doğru, Dürüst, Mert, Sadık.
  • Intellect and wisdom: Bilge, Bilgin, Uslu, Zeki, Sezgin.
  • Heart, joy and hope: Can, Gönül, Mutlu, Şen, Umut.
  • Fortune, blessing and fame: Uğur, Kutlu, Bahtiyar, Ünlü, Şanlı.
  • Appearance, body and strength: Uzun, Güzel, Güçlü, Pehlivan, Karagöz.

A spread of forms

Morphologically this is the most varied group. The negative aorist -mAz appears in Yılmaz and Korkmaz. The suffix -lI, “having”, appears in Yürekli, Uğurlu and Güçlü and follows vowel harmony as -lı, -li, -lu or -lü. The suffix -GIn shows up in Bilgin and Sezgin, -GIç in Bilgiç. Alongside these stand adjectives and nouns taken straight from the dictionary, such as Erdem and Çetin.

The origins vary as well. Turkic words stand beside Arabic ones such as Sadık, Zeki and Talih, and Persian ones such as Mert, Can and Pehlivan.

The 1934 setting

Article 3 of the Surname Law banned names of ranks and offices, of tribes and foreign nations, and names against public decency, while Article 5 gave adults the freedom to choose their surname. Words for a quality fitted easily between those two rules: they were not banned, and they were easy to choose.

A caution

These surnames describe the meaning of words, not the character of the people who carry them. Someone named Korkmaz need not be fearless, and Mutlu, “happy”, guarantees nothing. Why a family chose a particular quality was not written down.

When looking up a character surname, start with the whole word in the dictionary. Words such as Erdem or Akın are read with their own meaning, not split. Only if the word is not listed are stem and suffix examined separately, as with yürek and -li in Yürekli.

Sources1,2,3,4

Which categories make up this group?

  • Courage and resilience195 surnames

    Surnames expressing fearlessness, perseverance and toughness, such as Yılmaz, Korkmaz, Çetin, Sarp, Yürekli and Yenilmez. Türkiye's most common surname, Yılmaz, belongs here: it is the negative aorist of the verb yılmak and means 'one who does not lose heart'. Many surnames of this type also fall into the verbal formation class.

  • Virtue and integrity303 surnames

    Surnames naming moral qualities: virtue, honesty, purity, generosity and loyalty. Turkic words such as Erdem, Doğru, Dürüst, Temiz and Mert sit beside words of Arabic origin such as Sadık and Asil. These names tell us about the word's meaning, not about the character of those who carry it.

  • Intellect and wisdom154 surnames

    Surnames expressing intellect, knowledge and good sense: sage, scholar, clever, well-behaved, intelligent and perceptive. In Old Turkic 'bilge' is both 'wise person' and a title; the record states which value is foregrounded.

  • Heart, joy and hope295 surnames

    Surnames from words for feeling and inner life: soul, heart, love, joy, hope, peace and enthusiasm. Mutlu, Şen, Coşkun and Umut are well-known examples. The element can also counts as an affix in compounds such as Özcan and Ercan.

  • Fortune, blessing and fame207 surnames

    Surnames expressing luck, blessing and renown: good omen, kut (divine favour), fortune, glory and fame. The Old Turkic concept of kut lives on in names like Kutlu, Kutlay and Kutay. The elements ün and şan appear in forms such as Ünal, Ünlü and Şanlı.

  • Appearance, body and strength319 surnames

    Surnames describing height, looks, body and strength: tall, handsome, strong, robust, wrestler and big-headed. Some may come from pre-1934 family nicknames, which is stated only with documentation. Body nicknames with a mocking tone are grouped separately.

Which of them are most common?

  1. 1 Yılmaz 1,177,896
  2. 15 Çetin 345,329
  3. 21 Korkmaz 250,142
  4. 23 Yavuz 236,317
  5. 27 Can 230,085
  6. 28 Acar 228,386
Members in the national top 30, people (TÜİK ADNKS 2025).

All surnames in this group

#SurnameMeaningOriginRankLetters
01 Yılmaz undaunted, one who never gives up Turkic 1 6
02 Çetin tough, hardy, unyielding Turkic 15 5
03 Korkmaz fearless Turkic 21 7
04 Yavuz formidable, stern, resolute Turkic 23 5
05 Can soul, life; dear one Persian 27 3
06 Acar bold, vigorous, capable Arabic 28 4
07 Abadan prosperous, flourishing Persian – 6
08 Abasıyanık lovesick, “whose cloak is burnt” Turkic – 10
09 Ablak round-faced Arabic – 5
10 Acaroğlu son of Acar (‘bold’) Arabic – 8
11 Açan opening, blossoming Turkic – 4
12 Açık open, clear; frank Turkic – 4
13 Açıkalın open-browed, honest Turkic – 8
14 Açıkbaş bare-headed Turkic – 7
15 Açıkel open hand, generous Turkic – 6
16 Açıkgöz shrewd, wide-awake Turkic – 7
17 Açıksöz frank, outspoken Turkic – 7
18 Açılan opening, blossoming Turkic – 6
19 Adam human being; a decent man Arabic – 4
20 Adanır devoted, self-giving Turkic – 6
21 Adar one who dedicates; March Turkic – 4
22 Adıbelli well-known, of known name Turkic – 8
23 Adıvar renowned, famous Turkic – 6
24 Adil just, fair Arabic – 4
25 Ağım instep Turkic – 4
26 Ağırbaş dignified, sedate Turkic – 7
27 Ağırman grave, dignified Turkic – 7
28 Ahsen most beautiful, finest Arabic – 5
29 Akalın honourable, “white-browed” Turkic – 6
30 Akbaş white-headed Turkic – 5
31 Akbaşlı white-headed Turkic – 7
32 Akbaşoğulları sons of Akbaş (‘white head’) Turkic – 13
33 Akcan white dear, pure soul Persian – 5
34 Akçalı moneyed; whitish Turkic – 6
35 Akdik pure and upright Turkic – 5
36 Akdiş white-toothed Turkic – 5
37 Akdur stay pure Turkic – 5
38 Akgönül pure-hearted Turkic – 7
39 Akgöz white eye Turkic – 5
40 Akgüç pure strength Turkic – 5
41 Akıl reason, intellect Arabic – 4
42 Akıllı intelligent, sensible Arabic – 6
43 Akkanat white wing Turkic – 7
44 Akkaş white-browed Turkic – 5
45 Akkemik white bone, sound stock Turkic – 7
46 Akman pure, unspoilt Turkic – 5
47 Akpek pure and steadfast Turkic – 5
48 Aksakallı white-bearded Turkic – 9
49 Aksöz honest word Turkic – 5
50 Akşen pure and cheerful Armenian – 5
51 Akşener pure, cheerful man Turkic – 7
52 Akşin fair-skinned, pale Turkic – 5
53 Akyavaş pure and gentle Turkic – 7
54 Akyigit pure-hearted hero Turkic – 7
55 Akyol white road; clear, honest path Turkic – 5
56 Akyürek pure-hearted Turkic – 7
57 Akyüz honourable, “white-faced” Turkic – 5
58 Ala excellent, superior Arabic – 3
59 Alagöz hazel-eyed Turkic – 6
60 Aldanmaz not easily fooled Turkic – 8
61 Aldatmaz one who never deceives Turkic – 8
62 Aldırmaz unperturbed, heedless Turkic – 8
63 Algöz red eye Turkic – 5
64 Alın forehead; front Turkic – 4
65 Alkış blessing, praise; applause Turkic – 5
66 Alnıaçık open-browed, honest Turkic – 8
67 Alnıtemiz clean-browed, blameless Arabic – 9
68 Alsaç red-haired Turkic – 5
69 Alten rosy-skinned Persian – 5
70 Altınbilek golden wrist, strong arm Turkic – 10
71 Altıncan golden soul Persian – 8
72 Altunbaş golden head Turkic – 8
73 Alyanak rosy-cheeked Turkic – 7
74 Amin trustworthy (given name) Arabic – 4
75 Andaç keepsake, memento Turkic – 5
76 Anday oath, vow Mongolic – 5
77 Angın famous, renowned Turkic – 5
78 Anıl may you be remembered Turkic – 4
79 Anlağan perceptive, quick to understand Turkic – 7
80 Anlar understanding Turkic – 5
81 Anlaş get along, agree Turkic – 5
82 Anlı famous, renowned Turkic – 4
83 Ar sense of honour and shame Arabic – 2
84 Arar one who seeks Turkic – 4
85 Arat abundant, plentiful Armenian – 4
86 Arca pure, clean Turkic – 4
87 Arcayürek pure-hearted Turkic – 9
88 Arıcan pure of soul Persian – 6
89 Arığ clean, pure Turkic – 4
90 Arık pure, clean; or lean Turkic – 4
91 Arın pure, purified Turkic – 4
92 Arınç peace – 5
93 Arısan pure renown Turkic – 6
94 Arış forearm; warp Turkic – 4
95 Arif discerning, wise Arabic – 4
96 Armağan gift, present Persian – 7
97 Arman wish, longing Persian – 5
98 Armaner Arman + er, man of longing Turkic – 7
99 Arsan pure reputation Turkic – 5
100 Arseven one who loves honour Turkic – 7
Rank: TÜİK ADNKS 2025 national top 30. The list grows as surnames are added to the dictionary.4

Common questions

What does the surname Yılmaz mean?

Yılmaz is the negative aorist of yılmak: “one who does not lose heart”. Nationally, Yılmaz holds 1st place (TÜİK ADNKS 2025: 1,177,896 bearers).

Do character surnames describe the bearer's character?

No. They describe the meaning of a word and say nothing about the bearer's character.

Which suffixes appear in this group?

The negative aorist -mAz (Yılmaz), the -lI suffix (Yürekli), -GIn (Bilgin) and -GIç (Bilgiç) are the most common.

Sources

  1. 1Türk Dil Kurumu, TDK Güncel Türkçe Sözlük
  2. 2Sevan Nişanyan, Nişanyan Sözlük
  3. 3T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr), Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525)
  4. 4Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) · ADNKS, TÜİK Nüfus İsim Portalı: En çok kullanılan soyisimler (ADNKS)