Unisex name
Şafak name meaning
“the first light appearing before sunrise”
Şafak means the first light appearing before sunrise. It comes from Arabic shafaq and is used for both girls and boys in Türkiye. The Arabic word describes twilight or evening redness, while Turkish emphasizes dawn. A brightening horizon before the sun appears captures the name's Turkish meaning.
What does Şafak mean?
The first light appearing before sunrise
In Turkish: gün doğumundan önce beliren ilk aydınlık
Şafak denotes the light marking the transition from night to day in Turkish. Poetry and ordinary speech can therefore connect it with beginnings and hope. Its Arabic source refers more closely to evening twilight. Tan and Seher occupy a related semantic field through their associations with early morning.
Origin of the name Şafak
It comes from Arabic shafaq, referring to twilight or evening redness. In Turkish, its meaning shifted toward the first light of morning.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran |
| Is Şafak in the Quran? | As a word · بالشفق · 84:16The Quran uses the source word of Şafak for evening twilight; Turkish usage emphasizes the light of dawn. |
| Starts with | Ş · Şa |
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 Şafak
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
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Şafak Ebubekir
Meaning of each name
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
- Ebubekir: father of a young camel; the name Abu Bakr
-
Sadrettin Şafak
Meaning of each name
- Sadrettin: foremost in religion; chief of the faith
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
-
Şafak Siraç
Meaning of each name
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
- Siraç: a light-giving lamp or lantern
-
Zeynel Şafak
Meaning of each name
- Zeynel: adornment; shortened form of Zeynelabidin
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
-
Şafak Veysi
Meaning of each name
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
- Veysi: connected with Veys or Uways
-
Nasuhi Şafak
Meaning of each name
- Nasuhi: sincere adviser; wholehearted
- Şafak: the first light appearing before sunrise
How to pronounce Şafak
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ʃafak/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | شفق |
Is Şafak a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Şafak is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 60% of bearers are male. See all unisex names.
Şafak does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 59 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Spellings covered by this page: Safak
Names that sound like Şafak
Names with related meanings
- Seher♀The early morning before daybreak
- Rojda♀Daybreak
- Doğu♂East, the direction of sunrise
- Taner♂Man of the dawn
- Altan♂Crimson dawn
- Rojhat♂The sun has risen, the day has come
- Ertan♂Early dawn
- Rohat♂Day has dawned
- Sabahattin♂Morning of the faith
- Suphi♂Relating to morning or daybreak
- Ruhat♂The sun has risen
- Tan♂♀The first light before sunrise
Famous people named Şafak
- Şafak Pavey · b. 1976
- Şafak Pekdemir · b. 1988
- Şafak Sezer · b. 1970
- Şafak Edge · b. 1992
- Şafak Bakkalbaşıoğlu · b. 1964
- Şafak Eyüboğlu · b. 1966
- Şafak Mahmutyazıcıoğlu · b. 1980
- Şafak Müderrisgil
- Şafak Özanli · b. 1973
- Şafak Sarıçiçek · b. 1992
- Şafak Şengül · b. 1994
- Şafak Tavkul · b. 1963
FAQ about the name Şafak
What is the meaning of Şafak?
Şafak means “the first light appearing before sunrise”. It comes from Arabic shafaq, referring to twilight or evening redness. In Turkish, its meaning shifted toward the first light of morning.
Is Şafak a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Şafak is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 60% of bearers are male.
Is Şafak in the Quran?
As a word. The Quran uses the source word of Şafak for evening twilight; Turkish usage emphasizes the light of dawn. (e.g.: 84:16)
What is the origin of the name Şafak?
Şafak is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Şafak have?
Şafak has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Şafak?
Şafak does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 59 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
What are other spellings of Şafak?
Other spellings: Safak.
What names go well with Şafak?
Some ideas: Şafak Ebubekir; Sadrettin Şafak; Şafak Siraç.
Famous people named Şafak?
Notable people named Şafak include Şafak Pavey, Şafak Pekdemir, Şafak Sezer.
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: nm00892 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake