Boy name
Dede name meaning
“grandfather; forefather, a respected elder”
Dede means “grandfather,” “forefather,” or “a respected elder” and is a masculine name in Türkiye. It comes from an old Turkish kinship word rooted in family address and also used as a title. Its concrete literary association is Dede Korkut, the figure who gives the epic tales their name.
What does Dede mean?
Grandfather; forefather, a respected elder
In Turkish: büyükbaba; ata, saygı duyulan yaşlı erkek
Dede expresses both kinship and respect, appearing in different contexts as a name or title. The wise narrator of the Dede Korkut stories is a familiar literary association. It also functions as a religious title in Alevi tradition, without making every occurrence of the name religious.
Origin of the name Dede
Dede is an established Turkish kinship word arising from familiar family speech. Alongside grandfather, it has served as a title for respected older men.
How to pronounce Dede
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /dede/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | دده |
Is Dede a boy’s name?
Yes, Dede is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Dede does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Dede
FAQ about the name Dede
What is the meaning of Dede?
Dede means “grandfather; forefather, a respected elder”. Dede is an established Turkish kinship word arising from familiar family speech. Alongside grandfather, it has served as a title for respected older men.
Is Dede a boy’s name?
Yes, Dede is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Dede in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Dede nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Dede?
Dede is of Turkish origin.
How many syllables does Dede have?
Dede has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Dede?
Dede does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
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: nm05748 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake