Deniz (given name)

Deniz is a unisex Turkish given name meaning "sea".^[1] It is used for both women and men.

Deniz

Gender	Unisex
Language(s)	Turkish
Origin
Derivation	Deniz
Meaning	Sea

Originally, Deniz was a masculine name.^{[citation needed]} In a Turkish legend, the oldest Turkish ruler (Khan) Oğuz had six sons. They were Ay-Han (moon Khan), Gök-Han (sky Khan), Deniz-Han (sea Khan), Yıldız-Han (star Khan), Gün-Han (sun Khan) and Dağ-Han (mountain Khan).^{[citation needed]}

First name

• Deniz Aslan (born 1989), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Aycicek (born 1990), Turkish-German footballer
• Deniz Aydoğdu (born 1983), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Aytekin (born 1978), German football referee of Turkish descent
• Deniz Barış (born 1977), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Baykal (1938–2023), Turkish politician
• Deniz Baykara (born 1984), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Bozkurt (born 1993), Turkish-Puerto Rican footballer
• Deniz Burnham (born 1985), American Astronaut
• Deniz Çakır (born 1982), Turkish film and television actress
• Deniz Çınar (born 1984), Turkish yacht racer
• Deniz Dimaki (born 1977), Greek triathlete
• Deniz Doğan (born 1979), German footballer
• Deniz Ertan (born 2004), Turkish swimmer
• Deniz Gezmiş (1947–1972), Turkish political activist
• Deniz Hakyemez (born 1983), Turkish volleyball player
• Deniz Hümmet (born 1996), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Kadah (born 1986), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Kandiyoti (born 1944), Turkish feminist academic
• Deniz Khazaniuk (born 1994), Israeli tennis player
• Deniz Kılıçlı (born 1990), Turkish basketballer
• Deniz Koyu (born 1985), Turkish-German DJ and electronic dance music producer
• Deniz Kurtel, Turkish artist and electronic musician
• Deniz Kuypers, Dutch-American writer
• Deniz Mujić (born 1990), Austrian footballer of Bosnian descent
• Deniz Naki (born 1989), German footballer
• Deniz Nazar (born 1980), Ukrainian-born Turkish swimmer
• Deniz Orhun (born 1974), Turkish-American chef, media personality and businesswoman
• Deniz Öncü (born 2003), Turkish motorcycle racer
• Deniz Seki (born 1970), Turkish pop singer
• Deniz Tek (born 1952), Australian rock musician of Turkish descent
• Deniz Türüç (born 1993), Dutch-Turkish footballer
• Deniz Undav (born 1996), German footballer
• Deniz Uyanık (born 2001), Turkish female volleyball player
• Deniz Yılmaz (born 1988), Turkish footballer
• Deniz Yücel (born 1973), German-Turkish journalist

Middle name

• Damla Deniz Düz (born 1995), Turkish water polo player
• Dilan Deniz Gökçek (born 1976), Turkish football referee
• Nazlı Deniz Kuruoğlu (born 1960), Turkish ballet dancer and former beauty contestant

Fictional characters

• Deniz, in Follow Kadri, Not Your Heart
• Deniz Skinner, in Lazarus

See also

• Deniz (surname), for notable people with this surname
• Denis of Portugal
• Denise (given name), pronounced similarly in French