Ylmaz

Yılmaz is a Turkish masculine given name and surname. In Turkish, the name is commonly used as a first name and also occurs as a family name in Turkey and among Turkish communities abroad. When written without diacritics, it is often rendered as Yilmaz.

It comes from the Turkish adjective yılmaz, meaning unyielding, indomitable, or undefeated. The name carries a positive connotation in Turkish culture, reflecting resilience and strength.

Under the 1934 Surname Law, Turkish families adopted fixed surnames, and Yılmaz has been used as a surname as well as a given name in the modern period. The name is particularly common in Turkey and is found among Turkish diaspora communities in Europe and North America.

Notable people with the name Yılmaz include the film director and actor Yılmaz Güney, the actor and writer Yılmaz Erdoğan, the journalist Yılmaz Özdil, and the politician Yılmaz Büyükerşen. These individuals illustrate the name’s wide usage across fields such as cinema, journalism, and public service.