Boy name
Çağatay name meaning
“the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons”
Çağatay is the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons, taken into Turkish from Mongolian Čaγatai. In Türkiye, it is used as a boy's name. Its historical associations include the Chagatai Khanate and Chagatai Turkish, the literary language represented by the works of Ali Shir Navai.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Mongolian
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Çağatay mean?
The name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
In Turkish: Cengiz Han'ın oğullarından birinin adı
Çağatay derives its historical associations from Genghis Khan's son and the khanate named after him. Chagatai Turkish belongs to this historical setting, with Ali-Shir Nava'i among its major writers; analyzing the personal name as the Turkish words çağ and tay is not reliable.
Tay is Turkish for “foal,” but this does not explain every name ending in tay. Altay, Çağatay and Kutay each need to be considered through their own origins. More boy names ending in -tay →
How popular is Çağatay?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 48provinces
Where is Çağatay in the top 30?
48 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Çağatay popular?
Çağatay has a clear historical association through the son of Genghis Khan. Its two syllables and full sound give the name a strong presence.
Origin of the name Çağatay
The Turkish form of the Mongolian personal name Čaγatai. Its connection with the historical prince is secure, but its original lexical meaning is uncertain.
Double names with Çağatay
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Çağatay Mihri
Meaning of each name
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
- Mihri: of the sun or of affection
-
Karel Çağatay
Meaning of each name
- Karel: free man; adult man
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
-
Çağatay Arhat
Meaning of each name
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
- Arhat: one spiritually accomplished and worthy of reverence
-
Yorgo Çağatay
Meaning of each name
- Yorgo: one who works the land; farmer
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
-
Çağatay Jiyan
Meaning of each name
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
- Jiyan: life, living
-
Fazıl Çağatay
Meaning of each name
- Fazıl: virtuous; distinguished in merit
- Çağatay: the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons
How to pronounce Çağatay
| Syllables | 3 · 7 letters · 7-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /t͡ʃaɰataj/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | چغتای |
Is Çağatay a boy’s name?
Yes, Çağatay is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Çağatay appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Cagatay, Cağatay
Names that sound like Çağatay
Famous people named Çağatay
- Çağatay Ulusoy · b. 1990
- Çağatay Yılmaz · b. 2000
- Çağatay Akman · b. 1998
- Çağatay Şahan · b. 1979
- Çağatay Uluçay · b. 1907
- Çağatay Çeken · b. 1992
- Çağatay Kalkancı · b. 1974
- Çağatay Tosun · b. 1978
- Çağatay Afşar · b. 1999
- Çağatay Akyol · b. 1969
- Çağatay Altın
- Çağatay Durmuş · b. 1994
FAQ about the name Çağatay
What is the meaning of Çağatay?
Çağatay means “the name of one of Genghis Khan's sons”. The Turkish form of the Mongolian personal name Čaγatai. Its connection with the historical prince is secure, but its original lexical meaning is uncertain.
Is Çağatay a boy’s name?
Yes, Çağatay is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Çağatay in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Çağatay nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Çağatay?
Çağatay is of Mongolian origin.
How many syllables does Çağatay have?
Çağatay has 3 syllables and 7 letters.
How popular is the name Çağatay?
Çağatay appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Çağatay?
Other spellings: Cagatay, Cağatay.
What names go well with Çağatay?
Some ideas: Çağatay Mihri; Karel Çağatay; Çağatay Arhat.
Famous people named Çağatay?
Notable people named Çağatay include Çağatay Ulusoy, Çağatay Yılmaz, Çağatay Akman.
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: nm00471 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake