özlem

Özlem is a female given name of Turkish origin. In Turkish, özlem means longing or yearning, a sentiment of missing someone or something. The name is commonly given to girls in Turkey and among Turkish-speaking communities, and it has also spread to Turkish communities in the diaspora.

As a given name, Özlem is associated with emotional depth and evocative imagery, reflecting the linguistic meaning of longing. The name is written with the Turkish letter Ö, and is used in various Turkish-speaking regions as well as by families of Turkish heritage elsewhere.

Usage and reception of the name Özlem have remained steady in Turkey and among Turkish communities in Europe, where naming trends often favor words with strong emotional or cultural resonance. The name can be found across generations, from contemporary to older cohorts, and it is generally perceived as a positive, expressive choice.

Notable individuals with this name include Özlem Tekin (born 1967), a Turkish rock singer and actress known in Turkish popular culture. Beyond this, Özlem appears among various professionals and public figures in Turkey, reflecting its ongoing popularity as a given name in Turkish-speaking communities.

See also: Turkish given names, Turkish language, longing in culture.