Comparison·Top 10
TÜİK · ADNKS 2025Demir or Yıldız?
For every Yıldız there are about 1.26 Demirs (2025). Since 2018, Demir has grown 6.9% and Yıldız 5.5%, so the gap is widening. Nationally Demir ranks 3rd and Yıldız 5th.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. 5
Yıldız
“star”
- People
- 697,080
- Per 1,000
- 8.1
- Since 2018
- +5.5%
- Provinces led
- 1
- Origin
- Turkic
- Category
- Sky, sun, moon and stars
How have Demir and Yıldız 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 |
| Yıldız | 660,780 | 668,478 | 674,918 | 680,948 | 686,329 | 690,153 | 693,634 | 697,080 |
| Year | Demir | Yıldız | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 820,156 | 660,780 | 1.24 |
| 2019 | 831,095 | 668,478 | 1.24 |
| 2020 | 840,270 | 674,918 | 1.24 |
| 2021 | 849,475 | 680,948 | 1.25 |
| 2022 | 858,092 | 686,329 | 1.25 |
| 2023 | 864,643 | 690,153 | 1.25 |
| 2024 | 871,107 | 693,634 | 1.26 |
| 2025 | 876,934 | 697,080 | 1.26 |
Which one leads in which provinces?
In the 2025 province lists, Demir ranks above Yıldız in 69 provinces and Yıldız above Demir in 12 provinces.1
Demir ahead
The most populous entries are shown; the figure is the count in that province.
Do they share a root?
Both Demir and Yıldız go back to words of Turkic origin, 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.
- Yıldız The name is simply the Turkish word for a star shining in the night sky; Old Turkic recorded it as yultuz. Figuratively it also means a person who shines and stands out among others. It is used as a given name for both girls and boys.
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