Provinces
Most popular names in Kocaeli
The names given most often to babies born in Kocaeli, and the most common names in the province. Source: TÜİK, ADNKS.
Kocaeli at a glance
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 girl name was Alya (239 babies). Nationally it ranked #1.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 34 girl names (with ties); 28 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The girl name that climbed most since 2018 is Alya, from #13 to #1. 17 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 boy name was Alparslan (295 babies), first for 5 years running. Nationally it ranked #1.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 34 boy names (with ties); 24 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The boy name that climbed most since 2018 is Metehan, from #28 to #3. 14 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- The most common names in the province’s population are Fatma (24,639 people) and Mustafa (21,482 people); the most common surname is Yılmaz.
Top girl names in Kocaeli, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alya | 239 | ▲ 7 |
| 2 | Defne | 237 | ▼ 1 |
| 3 | Gökçe | 224 | ▲ 6 |
| 4 | Umay | 187 | ▲ 3 |
| 4 | Zeynep | 187 | ▲ 1 |
| 5 | Asya | 158 | ▼ 2 |
| 6 | Asel | 137 | ▼ 4 |
| 7 | Duru | 133 | ▲ 2 |
| 8 | İnci | 127 | – |
| 9 | Mihra | 121 | ▼ 3 |
| 10 | İpek | 116 | ▲ 2 |
| 11 | Miray | 109 | – |
| 12 | Zümra | 107 | ▼ 8 |
| 13 | Elisa | 106 | ▼ 5 |
| 14 | Ela | 100 | ▼ 1 |
| 15 | Lina | 95 | ▼ 5 |
| 16 | Ceylin | 88 | new |
| 17 | Güneş | 85 | – |
| 18 | Elif | 83 | ▼ 4 |
| 19 | Mira | 81 | ▲ 9 |
| 20 | Eflin | 75 | new |
| 21 | Ada | 74 | ▼ 1 |
| 21 | Sare | 74 | ▼ 3 |
| 22 | Doğa | 71 | ▼ 7 |
| 23 | Aden | 70 | ▼ 7 |
| 23 | Eylül | 70 | ▼ 4 |
| 24 | Ahsen | 64 | ▲ 6 |
| 25 | Arya | 62 | new |
| 26 | Kumsal | 58 | ▼ 3 |
| 27 | Nehir | 57 | new |
Top boy names in Kocaeli, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alparslan | 295 | – |
| 2 | Göktuğ | 226 | – |
| 3 | Metehan | 184 | – |
| 4 | Kerem | 150 | – |
| 5 | Kuzey | 132 | ▲ 5 |
| 6 | Atlas | 123 | ▲ 13 |
| 7 | Ömer | 112 | ▼ 1 |
| 8 | Alperen | 110 | ▲ 1 |
| 9 | Aybars | 105 | ▼ 2 |
| 10 | Yusuf | 95 | ▲ 5 |
| 11 | Poyraz | 92 | ▲ 7 |
| 12 | Yağız | 91 | ▲ 10 |
| 13 | Miran | 90 | ▲ 8 |
| 14 | Aslan | 88 | ▼ 9 |
| 15 | Yaman | 87 | ▼ 2 |
| 16 | Hamza | 85 | ▲ 1 |
| 17 | Ömer Asaf | 83 | ▼ 3 |
| 18 | Çınar | 81 | ▲ 2 |
| 19 | Yiğit | 77 | ▼ 8 |
| 20 | Aras | 75 | ▼ 12 |
| 21 | Miraç | 74 | ▼ 6 |
| 22 | Kaan | 73 | ▼ 4 |
| 23 | Barlas | 72 | ▲ 7 |
| 23 | Uras | 72 | ▲ 3 |
| 24 | Ali Asaf | 71 | ▼ 8 |
| 25 | Ege | 69 | ▲ 3 |
| 25 | Eymen | 69 | ▼ 13 |
| 26 | Mert | 67 | ▲ 2 |
| 27 | Asil | 63 | new |
| 28 | Kıvanç | 61 | new |
Names that stand out in Kocaeli
In Kocaeli’s 2025 top 30 but not in the national top 30.
The No. 1 names, year by year
| Year | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Alya | Alparslan |
| 2024 | Defne | Alparslan |
| 2023 | Asel | Alparslan |
| 2022 | Zeynep | Alparslan |
| 2021 | Zeynep | Alparslan |
| 2020 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
| 2019 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
| 2018 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
Most common female names in Kocaeli
| # | Name | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fatma | 24,639 |
| 2 | Ayşe | 20,465 |
| 3 | Zeynep | 18,771 |
| 4 | Emine | 17,483 |
| 5 | Elif | 15,371 |
| 6 | Hatice | 14,056 |
| 7 | Merve | 8,414 |
| 8 | Meryem | 7,678 |
| 9 | Esra | 7,278 |
| 10 | Zehra | 7,160 |
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. Population and surname lists are for 2025. All provinces →
Guide
Reading Kocaeli’s baby-name trends alongside its population names
Popular baby names in Kocaeli tell a different story from names counted across the province’s population. Keeping these lists separate helps you understand both recent choices and names that remain widely recorded.
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Alya leads the girls’ list
According to TÜİK’s 2025 province-level figures for Kocaeli, Alya leads with 239, followed by Defne with 237.
-
Alparslan remains ahead
TÜİK’s 2025 Kocaeli baby-name list places Alparslan first among boys with 295, followed by Göktuğ with 226.
-
Population leaders are different
In TÜİK’s 2025 Kocaeli population lists, Fatma leads female given names with 24,639 and Mustafa leads male given names with 21,482.
What the latest baby-name list shows
According to TÜİK’s 2025 province-level baby-name figures for Kocaeli, Alya leads the girls’ list with 239, just ahead of Defne with 237. Gökçe follows with 224, while Zeynep and Umay share the published rank with 187 each. Among boys, Alparslan leads with 295, ahead of Göktuğ with 226 and Metehan with 184. The tied girls’ entries matter when reading the table: an equal count should remain an equal result. These figures describe recorded name frequency within the province and year, without explaining individual families’ choices.
How the leading names changed
The annual leaders offer a longer view of Kocaeli’s naming patterns. According to TÜİK’s province-level lists, Zeynep led the girls’ entries from 2018 through 2022; Asel led in 2023, Defne in 2024 and Alya in 2025. For boys, Ömer Asaf led from 2018 through 2020, followed by Alparslan from 2021 through 2025. A change at the top does not show where every other name moved. Use the name statistics guide to keep annual leaders, counts and the scope of each list distinct.
Understanding names across the population
If you are looking for the most common names in Kocaeli, Turkey, use the population list alongside the baby-name table. According to TÜİK’s 2025 Kocaeli population figures, Fatma, Ayşe and Zeynep lead female given names, while Mustafa, Mehmet and Ahmet lead male given names. Yılmaz leads the separate surname list with 33,865. Source: TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute, address-based population register, top-30 lists; 2025, Kocaeli province. For a closer look beyond frequency, Mustafa means “chosen; singled out for distinction,” while the meaning index offers another way to explore names.
Using Kocaeli’s tables
- Choose the baby-name table for recent naming choices and the population table for broader frequency.
- Keep Zeynep and Umay tied when comparing their 2025 results.
- Preserve Turkish letters in names such as Gökçe, Göktuğ and İnci.
- Check a name’s meaning separately from its position in the rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Which baby names lead in Kocaeli?
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Kocaeli province figures, Alya leads the girls’ list with 239 and Alparslan leads the boys’ list with 295.
Does Alya also lead the female population list?
No. TÜİK’s 2025 Kocaeli population list places Fatma first among female given names, with 24,639.
What does Göktuğ mean?
Göktuğ is a Turkish-origin name meaning “a sky-blue ceremonial standard.” This describes the name’s meaning, without implying anything about its bearer.
Can these lists explain why families chose a name?
The counts do not establish families’ reasons. They also do not reveal a person’s religion, ethnicity or character.