Naming
Author
Nina Evason,
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- Most Turkish names have a similar format to Western names: [first name] [FAMILY NAME]. For example, Kemal AYDIN.
- Women commonly take their husband’s family name at marriage or add it onto the end of their own. For example, if Fatma KARABACAK married Mehmet KEÇELI, she could be known as Fatma KARABACAK KEÇELI or just Fatma KEÇELI.
- People are often addressed by their first name followed by “Bey” for men and “Hanim” for women. For example, “Yusuf Bey” and “Elif Hanim”.
- Kurds may follow traditional Kurdish naming customs and use their tribe’s name or their grandfather’s personal name as their surname.
- Popular personal names in Turkey are Yusuf, Berat, Mustafa, Ömer and Ahmet for boys, and Zeynep, Elif, Zehra, Hiranur and Miray for girls.