Boy name
Cemal name meaning
“beauty, especially beauty of the face”
Cemal means beauty, especially beauty of the face. A masculine name in Türkiye, it comes from Arabic jamāl, a noun belonging to the vocabulary of beauty and being beautiful. The Ottoman statesman Cemal Pasha provides a concrete historical example of the name's use in its Turkish form.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Cemal mean?
Beauty, especially beauty of the face
In Turkish: güzellik, özellikle yüz güzelliği
Cemal denotes beauty in Turkish, particularly facial beauty in literary usage. Ottoman poetry uses it for the beloved's face, while Sufi vocabulary also employs it for divine beauty. Cemil and Cemile share its root, and these varied uses give the name a meaning broader than a specifically religious term.
How popular is Cemal?
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
- 7provinces
Where is Cemal in the top 30?
7 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 →
Origin of the name Cemal
From Arabic jamāl ‘beauty’, belonging to the root j-m-l associated with being beautiful.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran |
| Is Cemal in the Quran? | As a word · جمال · 16:6The Arabic word jamāl occurs in the Quran in a passage describing the beauty of livestock. |
| Starts with | C · Ce |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Cemal
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Cemal Joseph
Meaning of each name
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
- Joseph: may God add; may God increase
-
Sabahattin Cemal
Meaning of each name
- Sabahattin: morning of the faith; its dawning light
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
-
Cemal Battal
Meaning of each name
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
- Battal: valiant warrior, fighting hero
-
Kani Cemal
Meaning of each name
- Kani: content with what one has; convinced
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
-
Cemal Kafi
Meaning of each name
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
- Kafi: sufficient, meeting what is needed
-
Faruk Cemal
Meaning of each name
- Faruk: one who distinguishes right from wrong
- Cemal: beauty, especially beauty of the face
How to pronounce Cemal
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /d͡ʒemal/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | جمال |
Is Cemal a boy’s name?
Yes, Cemal is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Cemal 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: Cemâl
Names that sound like Cemal
Names with related meanings
- Hüseyin♂Little beautiful one
- Hasan♂Beautiful
- Görkem♂Splendor, impressive grandeur
- Melih♂Handsome, pleasing and charming
- Levent♂Tall and handsome
- Civan♂A young, handsome and vigorous person
- Tahsin♂Beautifying
- Cemil♂Beautiful
- Hüsnü♂Associated with beauty and goodness
- Bahattin♂Beauty and splendor of the faith
- Talat♂Beauty of face
- Zeynel♂Adornment
Famous people named Cemal
- Cemal Gürsel · b. 1895
- Cemal Süreya · b. 1931
- Cemal Reşit Rey · b. 1904
- Cemal Hünal · b. 1976
- Cemal Kütahya · b. 1990
- Cemal Mersinli · b. 1875
- Cemal Yanılmaz · b. 1934
- Cemal Kızıltaş · b. 1994
- Cemal Nadir Güler · b. 1902
- Cemal Nalga · b. 1987
- Cemal Madanoğlu · b. 1907
- Cemal Toktaş · b. 1983
FAQ about the name Cemal
What is the meaning of Cemal?
Cemal means “beauty, especially beauty of the face”. From Arabic jamāl ‘beauty’, belonging to the root j-m-l associated with being beautiful.
Is Cemal a boy’s name?
Yes, Cemal is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Cemal in the Quran?
As a word. The Arabic word jamāl occurs in the Quran in a passage describing the beauty of livestock. (e.g.: 16:6)
What is the origin of the name Cemal?
Cemal is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Cemal have?
Cemal has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Cemal?
Cemal appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Cemal?
Other spellings: Cemâl.
What names go well with Cemal?
Some ideas: Cemal Joseph; Sabahattin Cemal; Cemal Battal.
Famous people named Cemal?
Notable people named Cemal include Cemal Gürsel, Cemal Süreya, Cemal Reşit Rey.
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: nm00169 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake