Kilic

Kilic is a Turkish surname derived from the word kılıç, meaning “sword” in Turkish. The spelling kilic reflects older transliteration conventions that were common before the 1938 Turkish alphabet reform, which introduced the letter ş to represent the “sh” sound. As a surname it is borne by people of Turkish descent in Turkey and diaspora communities worldwide. The name is typically masculine in use, although it can be found among both genders.

The surname has been carried by individuals in various fields. In sports, for example, Burak Kılıç (born 1991) is a professional footballer who plays for several clubs in the Turkish Süper Lig. Another bearer, Selim Kılıç (born 1985), is a former basketball player known for his tenure with the national team during the late 2000s. In the realm of arts and culture, the name appears among writers and musicians, such as the poet and novelist Ömer Kılıç, who has published several collections of short stories that reflect contemporary Turkish society. In politics, figures with the surname such as Hüsrev Kılıç—who served as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the 1990s—have contributed to legislative debates on economic reforms.

In addition to individuals, the term kilic occasionally appears in place names and ship names. For instance, a patrol vessel of the Turkish Navy may be designated “Kılıç” as part of a tradition of naming warships after weapons and virtues. The name also shows up in small communities, particularly in rural provinces that have historic ties to the Ottoman military tradition.

Because of its military connotation, the name kilic is sometimes used symbolically in literature to evoke bravery, skill, and resilience. It remains a relatively common but distinctive surname within Turkish culture, maintaining a connection both to linguistic heritage and to the broader historical narrative of the region.