Erkan

Erkan is a Turkish masculine given name and, less commonly, a surname. It is widely used in Turkey and among Turkish communities abroad.

The name is of Turkic origin and is typically associated with qualities such as strength and leadership, common themes in Turkish names that describe desirable character traits. In modern Turkish, the standard spelling is Erkan; historical contexts sometimes render the name as Erkân in Ottoman-era texts or transliteration.

As a surname, Erkan occurs in Turkish-speaking populations, often deriving from the given name or used as a family name in its own right.

Notable people with the given name include Erkan Petekkaya, a Turkish actor, and Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, another Turkish actor. The name appears in Turkish media and everyday life and is a familiar element of Turkish naming practices.