Unisex name
İlkay name meaning
“first moon; the moon’s first appearance”
İlkay means “first moon” or “the moon’s first appearance.” Formed from the Turkish words ilk, meaning “first,” and ay, meaning “moon,” it is used for both girls and boys in Türkiye. Its clearest image is a slender new crescent appearing in the sky; ay also denotes a calendar month.
What does İlkay mean?
First moon; the moon’s first appearance
In Turkish: ilk ay; ayın ilk görünüşü
İlkay joins the idea of a beginning with the image of the moon. A newly visible crescent or the first month of a period are possible associations. It is used for both genders in Turkish and belongs to the broader family of moon compounds.
Ay means “moon” in Turkish and appears in names such as Berkay and Eray. Other names ending in these letters, such as Altay, have a different formation. More boy names ending in -ay →
Origin of the name İlkay
A compound of Turkish ilk, first, and ay, moon or month. Both senses of ay are available in interpreting the name.
Double names with İlkay
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
İlkay Parla
Meaning of each name
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
- Parla: shine; give out light
-
Hanzade İlkay
Meaning of each name
- Hanzade: a khan’s child; offspring of a ruler
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
-
İlkay Özgü
Meaning of each name
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
- Özgü: particular to someone or something
-
Hatun İlkay
Meaning of each name
- Hatun: lady; a title for a high-ranking woman
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
-
İlkay Sevim
Meaning of each name
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
- Sevim: affection; lovableness
-
Belgin İlkay
Meaning of each name
- Belgin: clear, distinct; definite
- İlkay: first moon; the moon’s first appearance
How to pronounce İlkay
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ilkaj/ |
Is İlkay a boy’s or a girl’s name?
İlkay is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 40% of bearers are male. See all unisex names.
İlkay does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 53 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Ilkay
Names that sound like İlkay
Names with related meanings
- Miray♀Lord of the moon
- Aybars♂Compound of moon and leopard
- Belinay♀Hawk and moon
- Aysima♀Moonlike face
- Aysel♀Moon-bright
- Aynur♀Moonlight
- Aybüke♀Moon and mighty dragon
- Hilal♀The moon’s slender crescent shape
- Berkay♂A name combining firmness and moon imagery
- İlay♀Moon of the homeland
- Simay♀A silvery moon
- Aylin♀A halo of light around the moon
Famous people named İlkay
- İlkay Durmuş · b. 1994
- İlkay Altıntaş · b. 1977
- İlkay Akkaya · b. 1964
- İlkay Özdemir · b. 1981
- İlkay Dikmen · b. 1981
- İlkay Demir · b. 1987
- İlkay Akdağlı · b. 1973
- İlkay Aydemir · b. 1998
- İlkay İdiskut · b. 1989
- İlkay Kamil · b. 1944
- İlkay Margılıçlı · b. 1979
- İlkay Saran · b. 1938
FAQ about the name İlkay
What is the meaning of İlkay?
İlkay means “first moon; the moon’s first appearance”. A compound of Turkish ilk, first, and ay, moon or month. Both senses of ay are available in interpreting the name.
Is İlkay a boy’s or a girl’s name?
İlkay is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 40% of bearers are male.
Is İlkay in the Quran?
No. Neither the name İlkay nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name İlkay?
İlkay is of Turkish origin.
How many syllables does İlkay have?
İlkay has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name İlkay?
İlkay does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 53 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
What are other spellings of İlkay?
Other spellings: Ilkay.
What names go well with İlkay?
Some ideas: İlkay Parla; Hanzade İlkay; İlkay Özgü.
Famous people named İlkay?
Notable people named İlkay include İlkay Durmuş, İlkay Altıntaş, İlkay Akkaya.
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: nm00933 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake