Comparison·Top 10
TÜİK · ADNKS 2025Kaya or Şahin?
For every Şahin there are about 1.31 Kayas (2025). Since 2018, Kaya has grown 6.1% and Şahin 4.2%, so the gap is widening. Nationally Kaya ranks 2nd and Şahin 6th.1
SURNAME · No. 2
Kaya
“rock, crag”
- People
- 899,722
- Per 1,000
- 10.5
- Since 2018
- +6.1%
- Provinces led
- 5
- Origin
- Turkic
- Category
- Mountains, rocks and stones
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 Kaya and Şahin changed since 2018?
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaya | 847,737 | 858,398 | 866,547 | 875,113 | 883,067 | 888,828 | 894,360 | 899,722 |
| Şahin | 660,634 | 667,161 | 672,026 | 676,707 | 680,655 | 683,206 | 685,727 | 688,214 |
| Year | Kaya | Şahin | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 847,737 | 660,634 | 1.28 |
| 2019 | 858,398 | 667,161 | 1.29 |
| 2020 | 866,547 | 672,026 | 1.29 |
| 2021 | 875,113 | 676,707 | 1.29 |
| 2022 | 883,067 | 680,655 | 1.30 |
| 2023 | 888,828 | 683,206 | 1.30 |
| 2024 | 894,360 | 685,727 | 1.30 |
| 2025 | 899,722 | 688,214 | 1.31 |
Which one leads in which provinces?
In the 2025 province lists, Kaya ranks above Şahin in 60 provinces and Şahin above Kaya in 21 provinces.1
Kaya ahead
The most populous entries are shown; the figure is the count in that province.
Do they share a root?
Kaya goes back to a Turkic word, Şahin to a Persian one, and both are of the plain noun type.
- Kaya A kaya is a large, hard mass of rock rising out of the ground, a word Turkish has used since its oldest records. As a surname it carries the image of firmness and endurance, something that cannot be shaken. Kaya is also a male given name.
- 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