Melek means “angel”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a given name in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani.
- Melek is a name of Arabic origin.
- It is recorded for Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani.
- 2 syllables (counted from the spelling) and 5 letters.
What does Melek mean?
Melek is a Turkish female name meaning 'angel', taken from the Turkish word melek. The word reached Turkish through Ottoman Turkish from Arabic malak, 'angel'.[1,3,4]
Meaning themes: Faith and devotion
Melek in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani
What does Melek mean in Turkish?
In Turkish the name is written Melek. No separate Turkish gloss is recorded, so the general meaning “angel” applies. It is recorded as a girl's name.[1]
Where does the name Melek come from?
Arabic, borrowing. Wiktionary traces the name to Arabic مُلْك (‘rule, reign, supreme authority, dominion, dominance, sway, power’).[4]✓ Documented
Arabic, borrowing. Wiktionary traces the name to Arabic مَلَك (‘angel’).[3]✓ Documented
Arabic, borrowing. Inherited from Ottoman Turkish ملك, borrowed from Arabic malak 'angel'.[2]✓ Documented
Which languages use the name Melek?
Melek is used as a given name in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani. Its origin is Arabic. The table shows for each language whether the use is documented by a cited source or comes from our editorial research.
Melek across Turkic languages
| Language | Spelling | Gender | Meaning in this language | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish | MelekLatin | Girl | same as above: “angel” | Documented[1] |
| Uyghur | مۈلۈكArabic script | Boy | “rule, reign, supreme authority, dominion, dominance, sway, power” | Documented[4] |
| Azerbaijani | MələkLatin | Girl | “angel” | Documented[3] |
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 Melek
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.
Names related to Melek
Names with a similar meaning
Sibling names for Melek
Names recorded for the same languages that start with a different letter, so two children are not mixed up. Names that share a meaning theme or an element with Melek rank first. Siblings do not have to match; these are only ideas.
- BurakBoy“Buraq, the celestial mount of the Night Journey”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- TewekkülBoy“trust in God”same language (uyghur) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- EbrarGirl“the pious, the righteous”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- NurettinBoy“light of the religion”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- DindarBoy“one who follows the path of faith”same language (turkish, uyghur) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- LutpullaBoy“God's grace, kindness”same language (uyghur) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- İslamBoy“Islam; submission to God”same language (turkish, uyghur, azerbaijani) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
- YasinBoy“Ya-Sin (name of a Qur'anic surah)”same language (turkish, uyghur) · also shares the theme faith and devotion
Common questions about Melek
What does the name Melek mean?
Melek means “angel”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a given name in Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani.
Is Melek a girl's or a boy's name?
Our sources do not agree on a gender for Melek, so it is not classified. By language: Turkish: girls; Uyghur: boys; Azerbaijani: girls.
Where does Melek come from?
Melek is of Arabic origin according to our origin records. Read the origin section above for the sources.
Which languages use Melek?
Melek is recorded for Turkish, Uyghur and Azerbaijani. 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 is Melek spelled in other scripts?
Recorded spellings: Melek (Latin), مۈلۈك (Arabic script), Mələk (Latin). Romanizations and rule-based conversions are labelled as such in the spelling table.
How many syllables does Melek have?
Melek has 2 syllables by our approximate count of vowel groups in the spelling, and 5 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 “Melek”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 89389291. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Turkish name from melek 'angel'; classified as a female given name in the Turkish section; listed as a female given name in the Turkish section; headword of the Turkish given-name entry is “Melek”
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “melek”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 88390240. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Turkish noun angel; cherub; inherited from Ottoman ملك 'angel', from Arabic مَلَك 'angel'
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “Mələk”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 93608980. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: classified as a female given name in the Azerbaijani section; etymology states: From Arabic مَلَك (malak, “angel”); listed as a female given name in the Azerbaijani section; headword of the Azerbaijani given-name entry
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “مۈلۈك”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 76476183. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: classified as a male given name in the Uyghur section; etymology states: From Arabic مُلْك (mulk); listed as a male given name in the Uyghur section; headword of the Uyghur given-name entry (+1 more)
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “ملك”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 92981609. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Arabic مُلْك ‘rule, reign, supreme authority, dominion, dominance, sway, power’; Arabic مَلَك ‘angel’
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