Comparison·Top 10
TÜİK · ADNKS 2025Kaya or Yıldız?
For every Yıldız there are about 1.29 Kayas (2025). Since 2018, Kaya has grown 6.1% and Yıldız 5.5%, so the gap is widening. Nationally Kaya ranks 2nd and Yıldız 5th.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. 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 Kaya and Yıldız 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 |
| Yıldız | 660,780 | 668,478 | 674,918 | 680,948 | 686,329 | 690,153 | 693,634 | 697,080 |
| Year | Kaya | Yıldız | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 847,737 | 660,780 | 1.28 |
| 2019 | 858,398 | 668,478 | 1.28 |
| 2020 | 866,547 | 674,918 | 1.28 |
| 2021 | 875,113 | 680,948 | 1.29 |
| 2022 | 883,067 | 686,329 | 1.29 |
| 2023 | 888,828 | 690,153 | 1.29 |
| 2024 | 894,360 | 693,634 | 1.29 |
| 2025 | 899,722 | 697,080 | 1.29 |
Which one leads in which provinces?
In the 2025 province lists, Kaya ranks above Yıldız in 64 provinces and Yıldız above Kaya in 17 provinces.1
Kaya ahead
The most populous entries are shown; the figure is the count in that province.
Do they share a root?
Both Kaya and Yıldız go back to words of Turkic origin, 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.
- 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