Girl name
Zeliha name meaning
“Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story”
Zeliha names the heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story and is a feminine name in Türkiye. It is an established Turkish form of Züleyha, derived from Arabic Zulaykhā. The related name Züleyha and the narrative retold in classical verse provide its concrete literary associations.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Zeliha mean?
Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
In Turkish: Yusuf ile Züleyha anlatısının kadın kahramanı
Zeliha belongs to the same literary and religious narrative tradition as Züleyha. Although established as a feminine name in its own right in Turkish, it shares the associations of love, longing, and beauty found in stories of Yusuf and Züleyha. This connection with Islamic storytelling does not mean that the name appears explicitly in the Quran.
How popular is Zeliha?
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
- 25provinces
Where is Zeliha in the top 30?
25 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Zeliha
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
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 Zeliha
Zeliha is an established Turkish variant of Züleyha, from Arabic Zulaykhā. The source name's precise lexical meaning is disputed; its recognizable significance comes from the heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha narrative.
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 Zeliha
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Zeliha Mevanur
Meaning of each name
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Mevanur: a compound of refuge and light
-
Nursima Zeliha
Meaning of each name
- Nursima: radiant face, luminous countenance
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
-
Zeliha Merve
Meaning of each name
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Merve: hard pale stone; name of a sacred hill
-
Nimet Zeliha
Meaning of each name
- Nimet: a blessing; a benefit worthy of gratitude
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
-
Zeliha Tuba
Meaning of each name
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Tuba: blessedness, happiness; tree of paradise
-
Fatıma Zeliha
Meaning of each name
- Fatıma: a woman who weans a child
- Zeliha: Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Zeliha Nur.
How to pronounce Zeliha
| Syllables | 3 · 6 letters · 6-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /zeliha/ |
Is Zeliha a girl’s name?
Yes, Zeliha is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Zeliha appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Zeliha
Names with related meanings
- Meryem♀Beloved, loved one
- Mihra♀Sun
- Özlem♀Longing for reunion
- Sevim♀Affection
- Yaren♀Friend, close companion
- Züleyha♀Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Bade♀Wine
- Sıla♀A longed-for home
- Buse♀A kiss expressing affection
- Dila♀O heart, O beloved heart
- Mila♀Dear, beloved, lovely
- Gözde♀Favoured, highly regarded and cherished
Famous people named Zeliha
- Zeliha Ağrıs · b. 1998
- Zeliha Şimşek · b. 1981
- Zeliha Puls · b. 1997
- Zeliha Akçagüner · b. 1935
- Zeliha Berksoy · b. 1946
- Zeliha Saraç · b. 1977
- Zeliha Sunal · b. 1962
- Zeliha Akış Yıldız
- Zeliha Aslı Demir
- Zeliha Ayla Hüngen Zeli · b. 1934
- Zeliha Banu Kılıç
- Zeliha Betul Ozsagir
FAQ about the name Zeliha
What is the meaning of Zeliha?
Zeliha means “Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story”. Zeliha is an established Turkish variant of Züleyha, from Arabic Zulaykhā. The source name's precise lexical meaning is disputed; its recognizable significance comes from the heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha narrative.
Is Zeliha a girl’s name?
Yes, Zeliha is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Zeliha in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Zeliha nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Zeliha?
Zeliha is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Zeliha have?
Zeliha has 3 syllables and 6 letters.
How popular is the name Zeliha?
Zeliha appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Zeliha?
Some ideas: Zeliha Mevanur; Nursima Zeliha; Zeliha Merve.
Famous people named Zeliha?
Notable people named Zeliha include Zeliha Ağrıs, Zeliha Şimşek, Zeliha Puls.
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: nm00066 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake