Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 2,936

Kelek

Kelek /ceˈlec/

“unripe melon; river raft”1

Disputed origin Kelek: root entries for kelek · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
5 / 2
Formation
Plain noun
Vowel harmony
front
Initial
K
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How do you pronounce Kelek?

Kelek

IPA /ceˈlec/

The stress usually falls on syllable 2 (marked). In everyday Turkish, stress in surnames varies by speaker and region.

What does the surname Kelek mean?

Turkish has several words kelek: an unripe melon, a raft built on inflated skins on the Tigris and Euphrates, and an adjective “partly bald”. Which of them underlies the surname is not documented.1

The origin is disputed. The views put forward are:

  1. kelek “unripe melon” or “partly bald”.
  2. kelek “raft on inflated skins”.

Kelek is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Kelek made of?

Kelek is a single root: kelek (kelek: unripe melon; river raft; partly bald).

Kelek root kelek kelek: unripe melon;river raft; partly bald UNKNOWN kelek “unripe melon; raft oninflated skins; partly…” Kelek kelek root kelek: unripe melon; river raft;partly bald kelek UNKNOWN “unripe melon; raft on inflatedskins; partly bald”
Kelek: parts and root words
  • kelek unknown — unripe melon; raft on inflated skins; partly bald1

How was the name Kelek formed?

Kelek is the word kelek (“kelek: unripe melon; river raft; partly bald”), taken unchanged as a surname.

Shared note · 1934Surnames became compulsory with Surname Law No. 2525 of 21 June 1934.4

Who are some well-known people named Kelek?

  1. Necla Kelek writer 1957–

People surnamed Kelek as recorded in Wikidata, ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions.

How is Kelek written and pronounced abroad?

The name has no Turkish-specific letters and is written Kelek abroad as well.

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Kelek?

İnceköse, Kösebalaban and Köseler share gloss keywords with Kelek within the same primary category.

Which guides add context to Kelek?

Read the root, formation and register information for Kelek alongside this guide: How to research a Turkish surname and family tree.

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Wikimedia Wiktionary: kelek accessed 9 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: kelek accessed 9 November 2026
  3. 3 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name accessed 8 November 2026
  4. 4 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525) accessed 8 November 2026

Common questions about Kelek

Q1

What does the surname Kelek mean?

Turkish has several words kelek: an unripe melon, a raft built on inflated skins on the Tigris and Euphrates, and an adjective “partly bald”. Which of them underlies the surname is not documented.
Q2

How do you pronounce Kelek?

Ke·lek, 2 syllables; IPA: /ceˈlec/.