Provinces
Most popular names in Malatya
The names given most often to babies born in Malatya, and the most common names in the province. Source: TÜİK, ADNKS.
Malatya at a glance
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 girl name was Defne (79 babies). Nationally it ranked #2.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 60 girl names (with ties); 27 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The girl name that climbed most since 2018 is Gökçe, from #25 to #2. 26 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- In 2025 the province’s No. 1 boy name was Alparslan (79 babies), first for 4 years running. Nationally it ranked #1.
- The province’s top 30 ranks hold 112 boy names (with ties); 30 of them are also in the national top 30.
- The boy name that climbed most since 2018 is Metehan, from #29 to #4. 74 names in today’s top 30 were not in the 2018 list.
- The most common names in the province’s population are Fatma (11,034 people) and Mehmet (15,870 people); the most common surname is Şahin.
Top girl names in Malatya, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defne | 79 | ▲ 3 |
| 2 | Gökçe | 72 | ▲ 4 |
| 3 | Zeynep | 61 | ▼ 1 |
| 4 | Alya | 60 | ▲ 20 |
| 5 | Asya | 50 | – |
| 6 | Asel | 49 | ▼ 3 |
| 7 | Mihra | 45 | ▲ 2 |
| 8 | Umay | 40 | ▲ 10 |
| 9 | Zümra | 39 | ▼ 8 |
| 10 | Miray | 33 | ▲ 3 |
| 11 | İnci | 32 | ▲ 5 |
| 12 | Zehra | 31 | ▼ 2 |
| 13 | Elisa | 30 | ▲ 1 |
| 14 | Elif | 28 | ▼ 6 |
| 15 | Sare | 26 | ▲ 1 |
| 15 | Yüsra | 26 | ▲ 5 |
| 16 | Ahsen | 25 | ▲ 6 |
| 17 | Erva | 24 | ▲ 2 |
| 17 | Meryem | 24 | ▼ 6 |
| 18 | Güneş | 23 | ▲ 11 |
| 19 | Aysima | 21 | ▲ 1 |
| 19 | Ceylin | 21 | ▲ 6 |
| 19 | Duru | 21 | ▲ 3 |
| 19 | Eylül | 21 | ▲ 8 |
| 19 | İpek | 21 | ▲ 5 |
| 20 | Efnan | 20 | ▼ 13 |
| 21 | Beren | 19 | ▲ 4 |
| 21 | Gülce | 19 | ▲ 1 |
| 21 | İkra | 19 | ▲ 1 |
| 22 | Azra | 18 | ▼ 4 |
Top boy names in Malatya, 2025
| # | Name | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alparslan | 79 | – |
| 2 | Göktuğ | 54 | ▲ 1 |
| 3 | Ömer | 47 | ▲ 1 |
| 4 | Metehan | 46 | ▲ 2 |
| 5 | Yusuf | 43 | ▼ 3 |
| 6 | Alperen | 40 | ▲ 7 |
| 6 | Kerem | 40 | ▼ 1 |
| 6 | Ömer Asaf | 40 | ▼ 2 |
| 7 | Miran | 34 | ▲ 2 |
| 8 | Aras | 33 | – |
| 9 | Hamza | 31 | – |
| 10 | Yağız | 28 | ▲ 14 |
| 11 | Ali Asaf | 26 | ▲ 1 |
| 12 | Ali | 25 | ▼ 2 |
| 12 | Yiğit | 25 | ▼ 5 |
| 13 | Ayaz | 24 | ▲ 6 |
| 14 | Eymen | 22 | ▼ 5 |
| 15 | Yiğit Ali | 21 | ▼ 1 |
| 16 | Çınar | 20 | ▼ 1 |
| 16 | Kaan | 20 | ▲ 10 |
| 16 | Mert | 20 | ▲ 2 |
| 16 | Miraç | 20 | ▼ 3 |
| 17 | Poyraz | 19 | ▼ 6 |
| 18 | Aybars | 18 | ▲ 1 |
| 18 | Muhammed Ali | 18 | ▼ 10 |
| 18 | Talha | 18 | ▼ 1 |
| 18 | Umut | 18 | ▲ 3 |
| 18 | Yunus Emre | 18 | ▼ 4 |
| 19 | Ahmet | 17 | ▼ 2 |
| 19 | Altay | 17 | new |
Names that stand out in Malatya
In Malatya’s 2025 top 30 but not in the national top 30.
The No. 1 names, year by year
| Year | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Defne | Alparslan |
| 2024 | Zümra | Alparslan |
| 2023 | Zümra | Alparslan |
| 2022 | Zümra | Alparslan |
| 2021 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
| 2020 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
| 2019 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
| 2018 | Zeynep | Ömer Asaf |
Most common female names in Malatya
| # | Name | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fatma | 11,034 |
| 2 | Zeynep | 9,922 |
| 3 | Ayşe | 7,589 |
| 4 | Elif | 7,159 |
| 5 | Hatice | 6,717 |
| 6 | Emine | 6,509 |
| 7 | Fadime | 3,307 |
| 8 | Meryem | 3,145 |
| 9 | Songül | 3,052 |
| 10 | Sultan | 2,825 |
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. Population and surname lists are for 2025. All provinces →
Guide
Exploring Malatya’s recent choices and established names
Popular baby names in Malatya show changes in annual leaders alongside names that remain prominent across the population. Read the girls’ and boys’ tables separately, and keep their yearly counts distinct from the broader population totals.
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Defne leads among girls
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Malatya province figures, Defne leads the girls’ baby-name list with 79, followed by Gökçe with 72.
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Alparslan remains the boys’ leader
TÜİK’s Malatya annual lists place Alparslan first among boys from 2022 through 2025; its 2025 count is 79.
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A shared boys’ ranking
In TÜİK’s 2025 Malatya baby-name list, Ömer Asaf, Kerem and Alperen share the published sixth rank with 40 each.
Reading the latest leaders in context
According to TÜİK’s 2025 province-level figures for Malatya, Defne leads the girls’ baby-name list with 79, ahead of Gökçe with 72 and Zeynep with 61. Alparslan leads among boys with 79, followed by Göktuğ with 54 and Ömer with 47. The matching leading counts belong to separate girls’ and boys’ lists. Further down the boys’ table, Ömer Asaf, Kerem and Alperen each have 40 and share a rank. These details help you read the table precisely without assigning significance beyond the recorded name frequencies.
From Zeynep and Zümra to Defne
Malatya’s annual girls’ leaders show a sequence of changes. According to TÜİK’s province-level records, Zeynep led from 2018 through 2021, Zümra led from 2022 through 2024 and Defne led in 2025. Among boys, Ömer Asaf led from 2018 through 2021, followed by Alparslan from 2022 through 2025. These records identify the leader in each year, but do not establish why preferences changed. The double-name guide is a useful next stop when exploring a listed combination such as Ömer Asaf alongside names written as a single word.
Looking beyond the baby-name table
For the most common names in Malatya, Turkey, the population tables provide a different perspective. According to TÜİK’s 2025 Malatya figures, Fatma leads female given names with 11,034, followed by Zeynep and Ayşe. Mehmet leads male given names with 15,870, ahead of Mustafa and Ahmet. Şahin leads the separate surname list with 9,891, followed by Doğan and Kaya. Source: TÜİK, Turkish Statistical Institute, address-based population register, top-30 lists; 2025, Malatya province. Use the methodology to check scope, or explore names by meaning when frequency is only part of your interest.
Working with Malatya’s name data
- Keep the separate girls’ and boys’ lists in view when comparing their leading counts.
- Preserve the shared rank for Ömer Asaf, Kerem and Alperen.
- Read the annual sequence before describing a name as a new leader.
- Keep surname counts separate from given-name counts.
Frequently asked questions
What are Malatya’s leading baby names?
According to TÜİK’s 2025 Malatya province figures, Defne leads among girls and Alparslan among boys, each with 79 in its respective list.
Which girls’ name led before Defne?
TÜİK’s Malatya province annual lists place Zümra first among girls in 2022, 2023 and 2024, before Defne’s lead in 2025.
What does Defne mean?
Defne is a Greek-origin name meaning “bay laurel, an aromatic evergreen tree.” This is a meaning of the name, rather than a description of a person.
Do annual count changes explain local events or family decisions?
These tables do not establish the causes of changes. They report name counts within a stated year and province.