Girl name
Elif name meaning
“name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter”
Elif is the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, from Arabic alif. The letter name also became a given name in Turkish, where it is used for girls. Its upright shape, ا, provides a visual association found in classical poetry's descriptions of stature.
What does Elif mean?
Name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
In Turkish: Arap alfabesinin ilk harfinin adı
Elif evokes a slender upright line because of the letter's shape. Turkish poetry draws on this visual association in images of grace and uprightness. Sufi literary interpretations also connect the letter with unity, adding a symbolic layer beyond its literal meaning as a letter name.
How popular is Elif?
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.
- 2025 rank (girls)
- 11.
- Babies given the name in 2025
- 3,713
- Best rank
- 2.2018
- Trend (2018–2025)
- falling
- Girls named Elif in Türkiye (2025)
- 556,208
Babies named Elif each year
Show as a table
| Year | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Babies | |
| 2018 | 2 | 9,893 |
| 2019 | 2 | 8,288 |
| 2020 | 2 | 7,363 |
| 2021 | 2 | 6,433 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5,684 |
| 2023 | 6 | 4,685 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4,196 |
| 2025 | 11 | 3,713 |
Where is Elif in the top 30?
81 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Elif
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 Elif popular?
Elif spent years just below the top position before declining in recent rankings. Its connection to the first letter of the Arabic alphabet and short, easy pronunciation give it a lasting simplicity.
Origin of the name Elif
Elif comes from Arabic alif, the name of the letter ا. Turkish adopted the letter name, which also became a feminine given name.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Turkic history and myth | Names from Turkic epics |
| Is Elif in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | E · El |
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 Elif
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Elif Şeyma
Meaning of each name
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
- Şeyma: having a mole or distinctive bodily mark
-
Verda Elif
Meaning of each name
- Verda: rose; rose blossom
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
-
Elif Sıdıka
Meaning of each name
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
- Sıdıka: deeply truthful, sincere and honest
-
Tuğba Elif
Meaning of each name
- Tuğba: blessedness, happiness; tree of paradise
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
-
Elif Sebile
Meaning of each name
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
- Sebile: Woman devoted to God's path and goodness
-
Raziye Elif
Meaning of each name
- Raziye: content, satisfied, well pleased
- Elif: name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Elif Nur, Elif Sare, Elif Ada, Elif Zümra, Elif Su, Elif Naz.
How to pronounce Elif
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /elif/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | الف |
| Arabic | ألف |
Is Elif a girl’s name?
Yes, Elif is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Elif appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #11 (3,713 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Elıf
Names that sound like Elif
Famous people named Elif
- Elif Şafak · b. 1971
- Elif Eralp · b. 1981
- Elif Jale Yeşilırmak · b. 1986
- Elif Şahin · b. 2001
- Elif Ağca · b. 1984
- Elif Doğan · b. 1994
- Elif Berra Gökkır · b. 2007
- Elif Altınkaynak · b. 1974
- Elif Ekşi Ayık · b. 1967
- Elif Güneri · b. 1987
- Elif Sıla Aydın · b. 1996
- Elif Keskin · b. 2002
FAQ about the name Elif
What is the meaning of Elif?
Elif means “name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter”. Elif comes from Arabic alif, the name of the letter ا. Turkish adopted the letter name, which also became a feminine given name.
Is Elif a girl’s name?
Yes, Elif is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Elif in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Elif nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Elif?
Elif is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Elif have?
Elif has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Elif?
Elif appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists; among babies born in 2025 it ranked #11 (3,713 babies). See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Elif?
Other spellings: Elıf.
What names go well with Elif?
Some ideas: Elif Şeyma; Verda Elif; Elif Sıdıka.
Famous people named Elif?
Notable people named Elif include Elif Şafak, Elif Eralp, Elif Jale Yeşilırmak.
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: nm00013 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake