Handan means “laughing, smiling”. It comes from Persian. It is documented as a girl's name in Turkish.
- Handan is a name of Persian origin.
- It is recorded for Turkish.
- 2 syllables (counted from the spelling) and 6 letters.
What does Handan mean?
Handan is a Turkish female name of Persian origin. Wiktionary links it to Classical Persian xandān, 'laughing', an adjective that also means smiling.[1]
Handan in Turkish
What does Handan mean in Turkish?
In Turkish the name is written Handan. No separate Turkish gloss is recorded, so the general meaning “laughing, smiling” applies. It is recorded as a girl's name.[1]
Where does the name Handan come from?
Persian, borrowing. From Classical Persian xandān.[1]✓ Documented
Is Handan a Turkish name?
Yes. Handan is documented as a given name in Turkish. Etymologically it is not a native Turkic word: it comes from Persian.
Handan across Turkic languages
| Language | Spelling | Gender | Meaning in this language | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish | HandanLatin | Girl | same as above: “laughing, smiling” | Documented[1] |
Similar spellings in different languages do not prove a shared origin: two languages can arrive at the same sound from different words. The origin section above states what the sources say.
Spelling variations of Handan
Forms are shown as recorded, in their original script. Romanizations and rule-based conversions are labelled with their system and are not presented as attested spellings.
| Form | Language | Script | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handan[1] | Turkish | Latin | Native spelling |
Sibling names for Handan
Names recorded for the same language (Turkish) that start with a different letter, so two children are not mixed up. Names that share a meaning theme or an element with Handan rank first. Siblings do not have to match; these are only ideas.
- BeylemGirl“unopened cotton boll; bouquet of flowers”same language (turkish)
- TutuhanBoy“pledge khan”same language (turkish)
- IşınhanBoy“radiant ruler”same language (turkish)
- GülnarəGirl“pomegranate blossom”same language (turkish)
- SönmezBoy“unfading, never extinguished”same language (turkish)
- GüleryüzBoy“cheerful-faced”same language (turkish)
- BaştuğBoy“head banner”same language (turkish)
- NuhcanBoy“Noah's soul”same language (turkish)
Common questions about Handan
What does the name Handan mean?
Handan means “laughing, smiling”. It comes from Persian. It is documented as a girl's name in Turkish.
Is Handan a girl's or a boy's name?
Handan is recorded as a girl's name.
Where does Handan come from?
Handan is of Persian origin according to our origin records. Read the origin section above for the sources.
Which languages use Handan?
Handan is recorded for Turkish. The table shows each language's spelling, gender and evidence label, and a language is listed only when our data records the name for it.
How many syllables does Handan have?
Handan has 2 syllables by our approximate count of vowel groups in the spelling, and 6 letters. Pronunciation can differ by language.
Sources
Numbers in the text point to these sources. The descriptions on this page are written by our editors; source texts are not copied.
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “Handan”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 93634019. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: from Classical Persian خندان 'laughing'; classified as a female given name in the Turkish section; listed as a female given name in the Turkish section; female given name, Persian (+1 more)
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “خندان”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 92020846. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Persian adjective laughing; smiling; from خند 'to laugh' + -ân
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