Provinces
Most popular names in Balıkesir
The names given most often to babies born in Balıkesir, and the most common names in the province. Source: TÜİK, ADNKS.
Balıkesir at a glance
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 girl name was Gökçe (140 babies). Nationally it ranked #3.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 40 girl names (with ties); 29 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The girl name that climbed most since 2018 is Gökçe, from #23 to #1. 16 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 boy name was Alparslan (104 babies), first for 5 years running. Nationally it ranked #1.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 55 boy names (with ties); 28 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The boy name that climbed most since 2018 is Metehan, from #21 to #3. 28 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- The most common names in the province’s population are Fatma (23,299 people) and Mehmet (22,003 people); the most common surname is Yılmaz.
Top girl names in Balıkesir, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gökçe | 140 | ▲ 2 |
| 2 | Alya | 139 | ▲ 7 |
| 3 | Defne | 105 | ▼ 2 |
| 4 | Umay | 95 | ▲ 4 |
| 5 | Asel | 72 | ▼ 3 |
| 6 | Zeynep | 70 | ▼ 1 |
| 7 | Asya | 65 | ▼ 3 |
| 8 | Duru | 63 | ▼ 1 |
| 9 | İnci | 62 | ▼ 3 |
| 10 | Ela | 53 | ▲ 8 |
| 11 | Ada | 50 | ▲ 5 |
| 11 | Elisa | 50 | ▼ 6 |
| 12 | Masal | 45 | ▲ 3 |
| 13 | Doğa | 43 | ▲ 2 |
| 14 | Mihra | 42 | ▼ 2 |
| 15 | Güneş | 41 | ▼ 3 |
| 16 | Eflin | 39 | ▲ 9 |
| 17 | Aden | 36 | ▲ 2 |
| 18 | Lina | 34 | ▼ 7 |
| 18 | Sare | 34 | ▼ 4 |
| 19 | Ceylin | 33 | new |
| 19 | Miray | 33 | ▼ 6 |
| 20 | Eylül | 32 | ▼ 10 |
| 20 | Parla | 32 | ▲ 7 |
| 21 | İlay | 31 | ▲ 3 |
| 21 | Mira | 31 | ▲ 4 |
| 22 | Gülce | 30 | ▲ 1 |
| 22 | Kumsal | 30 | ▼ 10 |
| 23 | Elif | 29 | ▼ 12 |
| 24 | İpek | 28 | ▼ 5 |
Top boy names in Balıkesir, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alparslan | 104 | – |
| 2 | Göktuğ | 81 | – |
| 3 | Metehan | 77 | – |
| 4 | Kerem | 65 | ▲ 2 |
| 5 | Atlas | 58 | ▲ 2 |
| 6 | Ayaz | 49 | ▲ 3 |
| 7 | Aslan | 47 | ▼ 3 |
| 8 | Aybars | 46 | ▲ 2 |
| 8 | Kuzey | 46 | ▲ 3 |
| 9 | Asil | 41 | ▲ 15 |
| 9 | Yaman | 41 | ▼ 1 |
| 10 | Aras | 40 | ▼ 5 |
| 11 | Miraç | 39 | ▲ 4 |
| 12 | Yiğit | 38 | ▼ 1 |
| 12 | Yusuf | 38 | ▲ 9 |
| 13 | Alperen | 37 | ▲ 1 |
| 13 | Karan | 37 | ▲ 5 |
| 14 | Mert | 33 | ▲ 11 |
| 14 | Ömer Asaf | 33 | ▲ 1 |
| 14 | Uras | 33 | ▲ 3 |
| 15 | Ege | 32 | ▼ 5 |
| 16 | Yağız | 31 | – |
| 17 | Barlas | 30 | ▲ 6 |
| 18 | Poyraz | 29 | ▼ 5 |
| 19 | Altay | 28 | new |
| 20 | Çınar | 27 | ▼ 1 |
| 20 | Ömer | 27 | ▼ 2 |
| 21 | Alp | 26 | ▲ 8 |
| 21 | Cihangir | 26 | ▲ 7 |
| 21 | Mete | 26 | ▲ 1 |
Names that stand out in Balıkesir
In Balıkesir’s 2025 top 30 but not in the national top 30.
The No. 1 names, year by year
| Year | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gökçe | Alparslan |
| 2024 | Defne | Alparslan |
| 2023 | Defne | Alparslan |
| 2022 | Defne | Alparslan |
| 2021 | Zeynep | Alparslan |
| 2020 | Zeynep | Miraç |
| 2019 | Zeynep | Eymen |
| 2018 | Zeynep | Eymen |
Most common female names in Balıkesir
| # | Name | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fatma | 23,299 |
| 2 | Ayşe | 18,930 |
| 3 | Emine | 16,103 |
| 4 | Hatice | 13,124 |
| 5 | Zeynep | 8,950 |
| 6 | Elif | 7,816 |
| 7 | Hanife | 4,849 |
| 8 | Merve | 3,848 |
| 9 | Meryem | 3,777 |
| 10 | Kadriye | 3,550 |
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. Population and surname lists are for 2025. All provinces →
Guide
Making sense of Balıkesir’s close results and lasting leaders
Popular baby names in Balıkesir include a close result at the top of the girls’ table and a returning leader among boys. The population tables add a separate perspective, showing which given names are most common across ages.
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A close girls’ result
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province data, Gökçe leads the girls’ baby-name list with 140, followed closely by Alya with 139.
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A continuing boys’ leader
TÜİK’s Balıkesir province records show Alparslan leading the boys’ baby-name list from 2021 through 2025. The 2025 figure is 104.
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Population leaders differ
In TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province population lists, Fatma leads female names with 23,299 and Mehmet leads male names with 22,003.
Reading a close ranking without overstating it
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province data, Gökçe has 140 in the girls’ baby-name table and Alya has 139. That supports their stated order, but it does not explain parental preferences or establish a lasting trend. Defne follows with 105 and Umay with 95. Exploring Gökçe and Alya lets you compare the names beyond their counts. For wider context, consult the 2025 baby-name overview and distinguish its geographic scope from this province-specific result before drawing comparisons.
What the sequence of annual leaders shows
TÜİK’s Balıkesir province records show Zeynep leading the girls’ baby-name list from 2018 through 2021, followed by Defne from 2022 through 2024 and Gökçe in 2025. Among boys, Eymen leads in 2018 and 2019, Miraç in 2020, and Alparslan from 2021 through 2025. A repeated leading position does not mean the count stays unchanged. Open Zeynep and Defne to explore these earlier leaders, and check the statistics guide before interpreting rank as evidence of growth.
Exploring the boys’ names beyond rank
The boys’ table can also be a starting point for learning about names. Alparslan is Turkish in origin and means “valiant, courageous lion.” Metehan, also Turkish in origin, means “Mete Khan; Mete the ruler.” These are explanations of names, not predictions about a child’s character. If you are reading them outside Türkiye, the pronunciation guide can help you approach their written forms and sounds. Keep that language exploration separate from conclusions about the people represented in the statistical tables.
Comparing Balıkesir’s entries
- Keep the actual counts beside close rankings such as Gökçe and Alya.
- Check annual counts as well as repeated leading positions.
- Preserve Balıkesir’s dotless ı when recording the province name.
- Treat a name missing from a displayed list as absent from that list, without assuming nobody uses it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common names in Balıkesir, Turkey?
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province population data, Fatma leads female names with 23,299 and Mehmet leads male names with 22,003. Baby-name rankings describe a separate category.
Are Aybars and Kuzey tied?
Yes. TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province boys’ baby-name list gives Aybars and Kuzey the same rank, with 46 each.
Which surname is most common, and what is the source?
Yılmaz leads with 14,345 in TÜİK’s 2025 Balıkesir province surname list. Source: TÜİK, Türkiye’s national statistical institute, address-based population register, top-30 lists.