Girl name
Sedef name meaning
“the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells”
Sedef means mother-of-pearl, the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells. It comes from Arabic ṣadaf, meaning seashell, and developed its more specific material meaning in Turkish. Used for girls in Türkiye, the name evokes traditional mother-of-pearl inlay decorating wooden boxes, furniture, and musical instruments.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Sedef mean?
The lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
In Turkish: deniz kabuğunun parlak, yanardöner iç tabakası
Sedef names a natural material known for its pale lustre and shifting colours. Mother-of-pearl inlay held an important place in Ottoman decorative arts, especially on wooden objects. The name therefore suggests both the sea and the delicate craftsmanship associated with this softly shimmering material.
How popular is Sedef?
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
- 1provinces
Where is Sedef in the top 30?
1 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 Sedef
Sedef comes from Arabic ṣadaf, 'seashell'. In Turkish the word denotes mother-of-pearl, the shining inner shell material, and this is the sense underlying the given name.
Double names with Sedef
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Sedef Meral
Meaning of each name
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
- Meral: a doe; maral deer
-
Neval Sedef
Meaning of each name
- Neval: gift, bestowal; something received
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
-
Sedef Hayriye
Meaning of each name
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
- Hayriye: connected with goodness, beneficial
-
Jin Sedef
Meaning of each name
- Jin: woman; an adult female person
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
-
Sedef Ferhan
Meaning of each name
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
- Ferhan: joyful; full of gladness
-
Asuman Sedef
Meaning of each name
- Asuman: the sky, the vault of heaven
- Sedef: the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells
How to pronounce Sedef
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /sedef/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | صدف |
Is Sedef a girl’s name?
Yes, Sedef is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Sedef appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Sedef
- Seden♀
- Seher♀The early morning before daybreak
- Sude♀Rubbed, polished or worn down
- Selen♀Sound, news
- Seda♀Voice, sound, echo
- Sevde♀Dark-complexioned, dusky
- Senem♀Beautiful beloved
- Sezer♂♀One who senses or perceives what is unstated
- Sezen♀One who senses or perceives the unstated
- Seren♂♀Spreading or laying out
- Sever♂♀One who loves or feels affection
- Seven♂♀Loving, feeling affection or attachment
Names with related meanings
- Gökçe♀Sky-blue
- İnci♀Pearl
- Ela♀Hazel
- İpek♀Silk
- Aysima♀Moonlike face
- Ayşegül♀A combination of Ayşe and rose
- Ahsen♀More beautiful
- Hümeyra♀Rosy, lightly reddish in complexion
- Elanur♀Compound evoking hazel colour and light
- Gülce♀Rose-like
- Eda♀Graceful manner, charming bearing
- Züleyha♀Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
Famous people named Sedef
- Sedef Avcı · b. 1982
- Sedef Çakmak · b. 1982
- Sedef Kabaş · b. 1968
- Sedef Ecer · b. 1965
- Sedef Şahin · b. 1992
- Sedef Köktentürk · b. 1974
- Sedef Sebüktekin · b. 1990
- Sedef Küçük · b. 1958
- Sedef Akinli Kocak
- Sedef Altundağ Kara
- Sedef İnci
- Sedef Koray · b. 1969
FAQ about the name Sedef
What is the meaning of Sedef?
Sedef means “the lustrous, iridescent lining of seashells”. Sedef comes from Arabic ṣadaf, 'seashell'. In Turkish the word denotes mother-of-pearl, the shining inner shell material, and this is the sense underlying the given name.
Is Sedef a girl’s name?
Yes, Sedef is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Sedef in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Sedef nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Sedef?
Sedef is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Sedef have?
Sedef has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Sedef?
Sedef appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Sedef?
Some ideas: Sedef Meral; Neval Sedef; Sedef Hayriye.
Famous people named Sedef?
Notable people named Sedef include Sedef Avcı, Sedef Çakmak, Sedef Kabaş.
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: nm01286 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake