gusel

Gusel is a feminine given name of Turkic origin. It is derived from the Turkish word guzеl (often written with the umlaut as güzl or güzel), meaning beautiful. The name is used across Turkic-speaking communities and diasporas, including Turkey, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia’s Tatars and Bashkirs, with transliterations that vary by language and region. The form Gusel is one of several variants used outside of Turkish-speaking contexts.

As a name, Gusel is typically chosen for its positive meaning and cultural resonance, rather than for a specific familial or religious association. It is most commonly given to girls and appears in literature, music, and public life across Turkic and Turkic-adjacent communities.

Notable bearers include Guzel Yakhina, a Russian writer of Tatar origin who gained wide recognition for her novel Zuleikha and has been honored with literary awards. Other individuals with the name appear in various fields such as the arts and academia, reflecting its broad use in the regions where Turkic languages are spoken.

See also:

- Güzel (Turkish word for beautiful)

- Guzel as a given name in Turkic-speaking cultures

Gusel represents how a positive adjective from Turkish and related languages has been adopted as a personal name across multiple cultures, maintaining its core meaning while adapting to different orthographies.