Girl name
Nilüfer name meaning
“an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily”
Nilüfer means “water lily,” an aquatic plant with showy flowers. The name entered Turkish through Persian nīlūfar, with an earlier source in Sanskrit nīlotpala, combining words for blue and lotus or water lily. Used for girls in Türkiye, it evokes flowers rising among broad leaves on still water.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- Persian
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Nilüfer mean?
An aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
In Turkish: suda yetişen gösterişli çiçekli bitki
Nilüfer names the water lily, recognizable by its broad floating leaves and conspicuous flowers. As a given name, it combines aquatic and floral imagery. Nilüfer Hatun provides an Ottoman historical association. Although blue appears in the word's ancient source, modern Turkish uses it for water lilies of several colors.
How popular is Nilüfer?
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
- 2provinces
Where is Nilüfer in the top 30?
2 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
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 →
Origin of the name Nilüfer
It entered Turkish through Persian nīlūfar. Its earlier source is Sanskrit nīlotpala, combining nīla, 'blue,' with utpala, 'lotus' or 'water lily.'
Double names with Nilüfer
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Nilüfer Zülâl
Meaning of each name
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
- Zülâl: clear, sweet and pleasant drinking water
-
Sümeyra Nilüfer
Meaning of each name
- Sümeyra: Little brown-complexioned girl
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
-
Nilüfer Gülcihan
Meaning of each name
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
- Gülcihan: rose of the world
-
Zeren Nilüfer
Meaning of each name
- Zeren: gazelle, an antelope of the steppe
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
-
Nilüfer Eftelya
Meaning of each name
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
- Eftelya: Blooming; flourishing
-
Mübeccel Nilüfer
Meaning of each name
- Mübeccel: highly honored; held in esteem
- Nilüfer: an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily
How to pronounce Nilüfer
| Syllables | 3 · 7 letters · 7-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /nilyfeɾ/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | نیلوفر |
Is Nilüfer a girl’s name?
Yes, Nilüfer is used mostly as a girl’s name. In TÜİK data, 2% of bearers are male. See all girl names.
Nilüfer appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Nilufer
Names that sound like Nilüfer
Names with related meanings
- Zeynep♀A fragrant flowering tree
- Yasemin♀Jasmine, a plant with fragrant flowers
- Ayşegül♀A combination of Ayşe and rose
- Songül♀The last rose
- Gülce♀Rose-like
- Asmin♀Jasmine flower
- Açelya♀An ornamental shrub with colourful flowers
- Gül♀Rose
- Roza♀The rose flower
- Nesrin♀Wild rose
- Zeyneb♀A fragrant flowering tree
- Çiğdem♀Crocus
Famous people named Nilüfer
- Nilüfer · b. 1955
- Nilüfer Demir · b. 1986
- Nilüfer Göle · b. 1953
- Nilüfer Yanya · b. 1996
- Nilüfer Gürsoy · b. 1921
- Nilüfer Çınar Çorlulu · b. 1962
- Nilüfer Gündoğan · b. 1977
- Nilüfer Akbal · b. 1969
- Nilüfer Ruacan · b. 1956
- Nilüfer Açıkalın · b. 1967
- Nilüfer Örer · b. 1976
- Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu · b. 1968
FAQ about the name Nilüfer
What is the meaning of Nilüfer?
Nilüfer means “an aquatic plant with showy flowers; water lily”. It entered Turkish through Persian nīlūfar. Its earlier source is Sanskrit nīlotpala, combining nīla, 'blue,' with utpala, 'lotus' or 'water lily.'
Is Nilüfer a girl’s name?
Yes, Nilüfer is used mostly as a girl’s name. In TÜİK data, 2% of bearers are male.
Is Nilüfer in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Nilüfer nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Nilüfer?
Nilüfer is of Persian and Sanskrit origin.
How many syllables does Nilüfer have?
Nilüfer has 3 syllables and 7 letters.
How popular is the name Nilüfer?
Nilüfer appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Nilüfer?
Other spellings: Nilufer.
What names go well with Nilüfer?
Some ideas: Nilüfer Zülâl; Sümeyra Nilüfer; Nilüfer Gülcihan.
Famous people named Nilüfer?
Notable people named Nilüfer include Nilüfer, Nilüfer Demir, Nilüfer Göle.
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: nm00866 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake