Boy name
Erlik name meaning
“bravery; a mythological underworld figure”
Erlik means “bravery” and is also the name of an underworld figure in Turkic mythology. The Turkish common noun erlik is formed from er, meaning “man” or “brave man.” In Türkiye, it is used as a boy’s name. Mythological stories associate Erlik with the realm beneath the earth.
What does Erlik mean?
Bravery; a mythological underworld figure
In Turkish: yiğitlik; mitolojide yeraltı varlığı
Erlik evokes both a Turkish word for bravery and Erlik Khan, a figure in several Turkic and Altai mythological traditions. In these narratives, Erlik is associated with the underworld and death. An entry should therefore acknowledge both associations rather than explain the name solely through the positive sense of bravery.
Origin of the name Erlik
The Turkish common noun erlik is formed from er with the suffix -lik. The historical origin of the mythological name Erlik is debated, so the two uses should not automatically be treated as etymologically identical.
| Linguistic origin | Turkish, Old Turkic |
|---|---|
| In Turkic history and myth | Names from Turkic mythology |
| Is Erlik in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | E · Er |
How to pronounce Erlik
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /eɾlik/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | ارلك |
Is Erlik a boy’s name?
Yes, Erlik is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Erlik does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Erlik
Names with related meanings
FAQ about the name Erlik
What is the meaning of Erlik?
Erlik means “bravery; a mythological underworld figure”. The Turkish common noun erlik is formed from er with the suffix -lik. The historical origin of the mythological name Erlik is debated, so the two uses should not automatically be treated as etymologically identical.
Is Erlik a boy’s name?
Yes, Erlik is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Erlik in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Erlik nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Erlik?
Erlik is of Turkish and Old Turkic origin.
How many syllables does Erlik have?
Erlik has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Erlik?
Erlik 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: nm06201 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake