By year
Most popular baby names in 2020
The names given most often to babies born in 2020. Source: TÜİK, ADNKS.
2020: changes since 2019
Girl names: compared with 2019
- No. 1: Zeynep (unchanged)
- New in the top 30: Nisa (#18), Buğlem (#26), Ada (#28), Belinay (#30)
- Biggest climbers: Nehir (17 → 7), Eslem (16 → 8), Zümra (18 → 11), Ela (21 → 17), Melek (28 → 25)
- Biggest drops: Öykü (9 → 19), Ebrar (7 → 13), Duru (14 → 20), Hiranur (11 → 16), Yağmur (19 → 24)
- Dropped out: Aysima, Derin, Ayşe, Damla
Boy names: compared with 2019
- No. 1: Yusuf (unchanged)
- New in the top 30: Göktuğ (#22), Kuzey (#24)
- Biggest climbers: Alparslan (18 → 8), Ayaz (23 → 15), Metehan (27 → 20), Ali Asaf (14 → 10), Aras (20 → 16)
- Biggest drops: Miran (8 → 19), Yiğit (16 → 23), Umut (21 → 27), Emir (13 → 17), Berat (24 → 28)
- Dropped out: Ertuğrul
Top girl names of 2020
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zeynep A fragrant flowering tree | 11,326 | – |
| 2 | Elif Name of the Arabic alphabet's first letter | 7,363 | – |
| 3 | Defne Bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree | 6,351 | – |
| 4 | Asel Honey, the sweet substance made by bees | 6,217 | – |
| 5 | Azra Virgin | 5,670 | – |
| 6 | Eylül September | 5,052 | – |
| 7 | Nehir River, large flowing stream | 4,538 | ▲ 10 |
| 8 | Eslem Safer | 4,154 | ▲ 8 |
| 9 | Asya The name of the continent Asia | 4,147 | ▼ 1 |
| 10 | Ecrin Recompense, reward | 4,062 | – |
| 11 | Zümra Group, community, company | 4,020 | ▲ 7 |
| 12 | Meryem Beloved, loved one | 3,856 | – |
| 13 | Ebrar The righteous and virtuous | 3,436 | ▼ 6 |
| 14 | Miray Lord of the moon | 3,182 | ▼ 1 |
| 15 | Zehra Radiant woman | 3,172 | – |
| 16 | Hiranur A combination of Hira and light | 3,165 | ▼ 5 |
| 17 | Ela Hazel | 3,110 | ▲ 4 |
| 18 | Nisa Women | 3,022 | new |
| 19 | Öykü Story | 2,990 | ▼ 10 |
| 20 | Duru Clear, pure | 2,962 | ▼ 6 |
| 21 | Lina A kind of date palm | 2,797 | ▲ 1 |
| 22 | Alya High, exalted | 2,660 | ▲ 1 |
| 23 | İkra Read | 2,650 | ▼ 3 |
| 24 | Yağmur Rain falling as drops of water | 2,642 | ▼ 5 |
| 25 | Melek Spiritual being regarded as a divine messenger | 2,576 | ▲ 3 |
| 26 | Buğlem | 2,510 | new |
| 27 | Esila Late afternoon | 2,484 | ▼ 2 |
| 28 | Ada İsland | 2,410 | new |
| 29 | Melisa Honeybee | 2,256 | ▼ 5 |
| 30 | Belinay Hawk and moon | 2,170 | new |
Top boy names of 2020
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yusuf May God add | 7,665 | – |
| 2 | Miraç Means of ascent | 6,257 | ▲ 1 |
| 3 | Eymen Fortunate, auspicious | 6,245 | ▼ 1 |
| 4 | Ömer Asaf A wish for longevity and one who brings together | 5,658 | – |
| 5 | Ömer Life | 5,121 | – |
| 6 | Mustafa Chosen | 4,457 | – |
| 7 | Kerem Generosity, magnanimity, kindness | 4,404 | – |
| 8 | Alparslan Valiant, courageous lion | 4,390 | ▲ 10 |
| 9 | Hamza Lion | 4,020 | – |
| 10 | Ali Asaf One who is exalted and brings together | 4,013 | ▲ 4 |
| 11 | Ali High | 3,882 | ▲ 1 |
| 12 | Ahmet More praised | 3,825 | ▼ 2 |
| 13 | Mehmet Much praised | 3,602 | ▼ 2 |
| 14 | Muhammed Ali One who is much praised, exalted and eminent | 3,500 | ▲ 1 |
| 15 | Ayaz Sharp dry cold under clear skies | 3,451 | ▲ 8 |
| 15 | Muhammed Much praised | 3,451 | ▲ 2 |
| 16 | Aras The name of the Aras River | 3,405 | ▲ 4 |
| 17 | Emir Commander, ruler | 3,346 | ▼ 4 |
| 18 | Çınar Plane tree | 3,294 | ▲ 1 |
| 19 | Miran Lords, emirs | 3,102 | ▼ 11 |
| 20 | Metehan Mete Khan | 3,063 | ▲ 7 |
| 21 | Yunus Emre A dove and a devoted friend | 3,002 | ▲ 4 |
| 22 | Göktuğ A sky-blue ceremonial standard | 2,931 | new |
| 23 | Yiğit Brave, bold | 2,912 | ▼ 7 |
| 24 | Kuzey North | 2,905 | new |
| 25 | Alperen Heroic spiritual figure | 2,871 | ▼ 3 |
| 26 | Mert Brave, honourable, true to one’s word | 2,808 | – |
| 27 | Umut Hope, positive expectation for the future | 2,704 | ▼ 6 |
| 28 | Berat Absolution, deliverance | 2,662 | ▼ 4 |
| 29 | İbrahim Traditionally, father of many peoples | 2,497 | ▼ 1 |
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. Changes are against the 2019 list.
Guide
Making sense of Türkiye’s 2020 name rankings
The most popular Turkish baby names 2020 provide a national snapshot of names chosen for babies in Türkiye. Use the ranking to understand that year’s recorded choices, then explore individual entries for meanings and linguistic background.
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Girls’ leading entries
According to TÜİK’s nationwide data for 2020, Zeynep led with 11,326, followed by Elif with 7,363 and Defne with 6,351.
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Boys’ leading entries
Yusuf ranked first nationally in 2020 with 7,665. Miraç followed with 6,257 and Eymen with 6,245.
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Official data context
Source: TÜİK, Türkiye’s statistical institute, address-based population register, 2020, Türkiye level, top-30 lists.
Read nearby positions with their counts
Miraç and Eymen sit beside each other near the top of the boys’ table, with their published counts close together. Their positions tell you the order for this year, but rank alone leaves out the size of the difference. The same habit applies throughout the top Turkish names 2020: read the count alongside the position rather than treating every step in rank as an equal change in popularity. Consult name statistics and the methodology guide when checking the scope of a comparison.
New entries describe a threshold
Nisa, Buğlem, Ada and Belinay entered the girls’ top 30 compared with the previous year, while Göktuğ and Kuzey entered the boys’ top 30. This identifies a change in membership of the published lists, not the first appearance of those names in Türkiye. Use the 2019 ranking as the comparison page. For a closer look at one entrant, Göktuğ is Turkish in origin and means “a sky-blue ceremonial standard.” Its meaning does not establish why its recorded use reached this group.
Separate linguistic meaning from personal qualities
Alparslan appears eighth in the boys’ ranking. The name is Turkish in origin and means “valiant, courageous lion,” as explained in the Alparslan entry. That wording describes the name’s meaning; it does not predict courage or any other quality in a person. Likewise, Defne means “bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree,” with Greek roots. The ranking brings together names with different histories. It cannot identify a bearer’s ethnicity, religious beliefs or character, or explain an individual family’s reasons for choosing a name.
Working with the 2020 snapshot
- Read Miraç and Eymen’s counts as well as their adjacent positions.
- Use “entered the top 30” when describing the listed newcomers.
- Keep Göktuğ’s Turkish spelling when saving or sharing the entry.
- Treat meaning, origin and annual popularity as separate details.
Frequently asked questions
What were the leading baby names in 2020?
According to TÜİK’s 2020 Türkiye-level figures, Zeynep led the girls’ ranking and Yusuf led the boys’ ranking.
Did Miraç rank above Eymen?
Yes. In the 2020 national boys’ list, Miraç was second with 6,257 and Eymen was third with 6,245.
Does Göktuğ’s entry show when the name originated?
No. It shows entry into the published boys’ top 30 relative to the previous year, not the name’s historical beginning.
Can this table predict a future ranking?
No. It records one year’s results. A later year needs its own official figures.