Boy name
Efe name meaning
“zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother”
Efe means a zeybek leader, a brave man, or an elder brother. It became a given name from the title efe used in Turkish and is given to boys in Türkiye. Its concrete cultural association is the leading figure in zeybek tradition, alongside the distinctive dress and measured dance movements.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Turkish
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Efe mean?
Zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
In Turkish: zeybek önderi; yiğit, ağabey
Efe is a historical title for a leader in the zeybek tradition of western Anatolia. The word also developed everyday senses involving bravery and elder-brother status. Historical designations such as Demirci Mehmet Efe and Yörük Ali Efe illustrate the title, which also functions as an independent given name.
How popular is Efe?
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
- 58provinces
Where is Efe in the top 30?
58 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Efe
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
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 Efe popular?
Efe carries associations of courage through its meaning of a zeybek leader or brave man. Its three-letter, two-syllable form is easy to say.
Origin of the name Efe
Efe became a personal name from the Turkish title efe. Its earlier etymology is uncertain, with proposals involving Turkic kinship terms and Greek.
Double names with Efe
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Efe Gürer
Meaning of each name
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
- Gürer: vigorous, strong man
-
Gürhan Efe
Meaning of each name
- Gürhan: a powerful, strong-voiced ruler
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
-
Efe Uysal
Meaning of each name
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
- Uysal: gentle, compliant, readily accommodating
-
Sergen Efe
Meaning of each name
- Sergen: display shelf; a shelf set high
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
-
Efe Alptuğ
Meaning of each name
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
- Alptuğ: a name combining valour and a standard
-
Kutlu Efe
Meaning of each name
- Kutlu: auspicious, blessed and fortunate
- Efe: zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Yiğit Efe, Yağız Efe, Miraç Efe, Mehmet Efe, Poyraz Efe, Eymen Efe.
How to pronounce Efe
| Syllables | 2 · 3 letters · 3-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /efe/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | افه |
Is Efe a boy’s name?
Yes, Efe is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Efe appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Efe
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Efe
- Efe Akman · b. 2006
- Efe Aydan · b. 1955
- Efe Bayram · b. 2002
- Efe İnanç · b. 1980
- Efe Halil Özarslan · b. 1990
- Efe Mandıracı · b. 2002
- Efe Arda Koyuncu · b. 2005
- Efe Güven · b. 1985
- Efe Korkut · b. 2006
- Efe Murad · b. 1987
- Efe Sarıkaya · b. 2005
- Efe Tatlı · b. 2002
FAQ about the name Efe
What is the meaning of Efe?
Efe means “zeybek leader; brave man, elder brother”. Efe became a personal name from the Turkish title efe. Its earlier etymology is uncertain, with proposals involving Turkic kinship terms and Greek.
Is Efe a boy’s name?
Yes, Efe is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Efe in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Efe nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Efe?
Efe is of Turkish origin.
How many syllables does Efe have?
Efe has 2 syllables and 3 letters.
How popular is the name Efe?
Efe appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Efe?
Some ideas: Efe Gürer; Gürhan Efe; Efe Uysal.
Famous people named Efe?
Notable people named Efe include Efe Akman, Efe Aydan, Efe Bayram.
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: nm00259 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake