Şafak means “dawn”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a name for girls and boys in Turkish.
- Şafak is a name of Arabic origin.
- It is recorded for Turkish.
- 2 syllables (counted from the spelling) and 5 letters.
What does Şafak mean?
Şafak is a Turkish unisex name meaning 'dawn', from the noun şafak. Wiktionary notes that the source word, Arabic šafaq, meant twilight or dusk, and that the sense shifted from dusk to dawn in Ottoman times.[1]
Meaning themes: Light
Şafak in Turkish
What does Şafak mean in Turkish?
In Turkish the name is written Şafak. No separate Turkish gloss is recorded, so the general meaning “dawn” applies. It is recorded as a name for girls and boys.[1]
Where does the name Şafak come from?
Arabic, borrowing. Inherited from Ottoman şefak/şafak, from Arabic šafaq 'twilight, dusk'; the meaning shifted to dawn in Ottoman times.[2]✓ Documented
Is Şafak a Turkish name?
Yes. Şafak is documented as a given name in Turkish. Etymologically it is not a native Turkic word: it comes from Arabic.
Şafak across Turkic languages
| Language | Spelling | Gender | Meaning in this language | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish | ŞafakLatin | Unisex | same as above: “dawn” | 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 Şafak
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Şafak[1] | Turkish | Latin | Native spelling |
Names related to Şafak
Sibling names for Şafak
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 Şafak rank first. Siblings do not have to match; these are only ideas.
- AynurGirl“moon + light”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- İlknurGirl“first + light”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- ÖznurGirl“pure light”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- IşıkUnisex“light”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- NurcanUnisex“light + soul”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- ZiyaBoy“light, brightness”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- NurettinBoy“light of the religion”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
- NurhanUnisex“light + khan”same language (turkish) · also shares the theme light
Common questions about Şafak
What does the name Şafak mean?
Şafak means “dawn”. It comes from Arabic. It is documented as a name for girls and boys in Turkish.
Is Şafak a girl's or a boy's name?
Şafak is recorded for both girls and boys.
Where does Şafak come from?
Şafak is of Arabic origin according to our origin records. Read the origin section above for the sources.
Which languages use Şafak?
Şafak 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 Şafak have?
Şafak 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 “Şafak”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 88560132. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Turkish name from şafak 'dawn'; classified as a unisex (classified as both male and female or as unisex) given name in the Turkish section; listed as a unisex (listed as both male and female or as unisex) given name in the Turkish section; headword of the Turkish given-name entry is “Şafak”
- Wiktionary contributors. Wiktionary entry “şafak”. Wikimedia Foundation, revision 92276608. Accessed 2026-10-28. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Turkish noun dawn, the light just before daybreak; inherited from Ottoman شفق, from Arabic شَفَق 'twilight, dusk'; meaning shifted from dusk to dawn in Ottoman times
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