Comparison·Top 10
TÜİK · ADNKS 2025Demir or Şahin?
For every Şahin there are about 1.27 Demirs (2025). Since 2018, Demir has grown 6.9% and Şahin 4.2%, so the gap is widening. Nationally Demir ranks 3rd and Şahin 6th.1
SURNAME · No. 3
Demir
“iron; strong, steadfast”
- People
- 876,934
- Per 1,000
- 10.2
- Since 2018
- +6.9%
- Provinces led
- 9
- Origin
- Turkic
- Category
- Metals and gemstones
SURNAME · No. 6
Şahin
“hawk, buzzard”
- People
- 688,214
- Per 1,000
- 8.0
- Since 2018
- +4.2%
- Provinces led
- 4
- Origin
- Persian
- Category
- Birds of prey
How have Demir and Şahin changed since 2018?
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demir | 820,156 | 831,095 | 840,270 | 849,475 | 858,092 | 864,643 | 871,107 | 876,934 |
| Şahin | 660,634 | 667,161 | 672,026 | 676,707 | 680,655 | 683,206 | 685,727 | 688,214 |
| Year | Demir | Şahin | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 820,156 | 660,634 | 1.24 |
| 2019 | 831,095 | 667,161 | 1.25 |
| 2020 | 840,270 | 672,026 | 1.25 |
| 2021 | 849,475 | 676,707 | 1.26 |
| 2022 | 858,092 | 680,655 | 1.26 |
| 2023 | 864,643 | 683,206 | 1.27 |
| 2024 | 871,107 | 685,727 | 1.27 |
| 2025 | 876,934 | 688,214 | 1.27 |
Which one leads in which provinces?
In the 2025 province lists, Demir ranks above Şahin in 57 provinces and Şahin above Demir in 24 provinces.1
Demir ahead
The most populous entries are shown; the figure is the count in that province.
Do they share a root?
Demir goes back to a Turkic word, Şahin to a Persian one, and both are of the plain noun type.
- Demir Demir is the Turkish word for iron, from Old Turkic temür. Figuratively it stands for what is strong, sound and unbreakable. It is a very old personal name across the Turkic world; the name Timur is another form of the same word.
- Şahin The şahin is a medium-sized bird of prey of the hawk family, living in mountains and woodland; English renders it as buzzard or hawk. The word comes from Persian and is connected with şāh, “king”. As a name it stands for the bird’s keen eye, courage and agility.
How is this comparison made?
Sources
- 1Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) · ADNKS, TÜİK Nüfus İsim Portalı: En çok kullanılan soyisimler (ADNKS)
- 2Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) · ADNKS, TÜİK ADNKS: Cinsiyete göre nüfus, Türkiye ve 81 il