Unisex name
Ay name meaning
“the moon; a calendar month”
Ay means “the moon” and “a calendar month.” Used for both girls and boys in Türkiye, it comes directly from the Turkish word ay, which has long expressed both meanings. The moon’s changing appearance, from crescent to full moon, links its celestial image with the passage of time.
What does Ay mean?
The moon; a calendar month
In Turkish: gökteki ay; zaman birimi
Ay appears independently as well as in many compound Turkish names. Its central image is the bright celestial body in the night sky, while the same word's use for a calendar month connects that image with the recurring rhythms through which people measure time.
Origin of the name Ay
From Turkish ay, 'moon' and 'month'. Both senses have a long history, linking the celestial body with the interval measured by its cycle.
| Linguistic origin | Turkish |
|---|---|
| In Turkic history and myth | Names from Turkic epics |
| Is Ay in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | A · Ay |
Double names with Ay
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Ay Bayrı
Meaning of each name
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
- Bayrı: ancient, long-established, deeply rooted
-
Kan Ay
Meaning of each name
- Kan: Blood; bond of lineage
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
-
Ay Miray
Meaning of each name
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
- Miray: Lord of the moon
-
Gökçen Ay
Meaning of each name
- Gökçen: beautiful, fair; associated with the sky
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
-
Ay Bilgin
Meaning of each name
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
- Bilgin: a learned person; a scholar
-
Seçkin Ay
Meaning of each name
- Seçkin: distinguished; outstanding and worthy of selection
- Ay: the moon; a calendar month
How to pronounce Ay
| Syllables | 1 · 2 letters |
|---|---|
| IPA | /aj/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | آی |
Is Ay a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Ay is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 29% of bearers are male. See all unisex names.
Ay does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 7 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Ay
Names with related meanings
- Miray♀Lord of the moon
- Aybars♂Compound of moon and leopard
- Belinay♀Hawk and moon
- Aysima♀Moonlike face
- Aysel♀Moon-bright
- Aynur♀Moonlight
- Aybüke♀Moon and mighty dragon
- Hilal♀The moon’s slender crescent shape
- Berkay♂A name combining firmness and moon imagery
- İlay♀Moon of the homeland
- Simay♀A silvery moon
- Aylin♀A halo of light around the moon
FAQ about the name Ay
What is the meaning of Ay?
Ay means “the moon; a calendar month”. From Turkish ay, 'moon' and 'month'. Both senses have a long history, linking the celestial body with the interval measured by its cycle.
Is Ay a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Ay is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 29% of bearers are male.
Is Ay in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Ay nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Ay?
Ay is of Turkish origin.
How many syllables does Ay have?
Ay has 1 syllable and 2 letters.
How popular is the name Ay?
Ay does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 7 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
What names go well with Ay?
Some ideas: Ay Bayrı; Kan Ay; Ay Miray.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm01789 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake