Girl name
Gülen name meaning
“smiling, showing joy in the face”
Gülen means “smiling” or “showing joy in the face” and comes from the Turkish verb gülmek, “to smile” or “to laugh,” with a participial ending. In Türkiye, it is used for girls. Its direct image is a smiling expression, and Güler is a related name formed from the same verb.
What does Gülen mean?
Smiling, showing joy in the face
In Turkish: gülümseyen, yüzünde sevinç taşıyan
Gülen turns the action of smiling into an immediate visual image. The same form is an ordinary participle in Turkish, so its meaning remains readily recognizable. It is close to Güler and Gülümser in both meaning and structure, with a different origin from rose-based names.
Origin of the name Gülen
Gülen is formed from the Turkish verb gülmek, “to smile or laugh,” with the participial suffix -en. Its base is the verb rather than gül, “rose.”
Double names with Gülen
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
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Gülen Sezen
Meaning of each name
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
- Sezen: one who senses or perceives the unstated
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Binnur Gülen
Meaning of each name
- Binnur: a thousand lights; abundant brightness
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
-
Gülen Önal
Meaning of each name
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
- Önal: take the lead; occupy the front position
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İlkim Gülen
Meaning of each name
- İlkim: my first; my first one
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
-
Gülen Fulden
Meaning of each name
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
- Fulden: From the jasmine flower
-
Akça Gülen
Meaning of each name
- Akça: whitish, rather white
- Gülen: smiling, showing joy in the face
How to pronounce Gülen
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ɡylen/ |
Is Gülen a girl’s name?
Yes, Gülen is used mostly as a girl’s name. In our data, 5% of bearers are male. See all girl names.
Gülen does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 19 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Gulen
Names that sound like Gülen
Names with related meanings
- Aden♀Delight
- Büşra♀Glad tidings
- Tuğba♀Blessedness, happiness
- Serra♀Prosperity and well-being
- Hüma♀Mythical bird bringing fortune and happiness
- Cennet♀Paradise
- Hümanur♀Name evoking the huma bird and light
- Tuba♀Blessedness, happiness
- Neşe♀Joy, cheerfulness, heartfelt happiness
- Hande♀Laughter, a smile and cheerful expression
- Ruken♀Smiling-faced
- Mizgin♀Glad tidings
Famous people named Gülen
- Gülen Karaman · b. 1962
- Gülen Kıpçak · b. 1944
- Gulen Addis
- Gulen Ozkula
- Gülen Arslan Lied
- Gülen Bülbül · b. 1960
- Gülen Güler
- Gülen Hatemi
- Gülen Melike Demirbolat
- Gülen Pehlivantürk
- Gülen Sarıal-Abi
- Gülen Şengül
FAQ about the name Gülen
What is the meaning of Gülen?
Gülen means “smiling, showing joy in the face”. Gülen is formed from the Turkish verb gülmek, “to smile or laugh,” with the participial suffix -en. Its base is the verb rather than gül, “rose.”
Is Gülen a girl’s name?
Yes, Gülen is used mostly as a girl’s name. In our data, 5% of bearers are male.
Is Gülen in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Gülen nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Gülen?
Gülen is of Turkish origin.
How many syllables does Gülen have?
Gülen has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Gülen?
Gülen does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 19 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
What are other spellings of Gülen?
Other spellings: Gulen.
What names go well with Gülen?
Some ideas: Gülen Sezen; Binnur Gülen; Gülen Önal.
Famous people named Gülen?
Notable people named Gülen include Gülen Karaman, Gülen Kıpçak, Gulen Addis.
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: nm01323 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake