Declining since 2014, #5,045 for boys today.
Popularity of Mehmet since 1960
Babies named Mehmet per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 42 |
| 1990s | 109 |
| 2000s | 208 |
| 2010s | 334 |
| 2020s | 117 |
Meaning & origin
Mehmet is the Turkish adaptation of Muhammad, a name of profound importance in Islam. In the United States, it has been in use since at least 1960, reflecting immigration patterns. Its popularity rose steadily, peaking at rank 5045 in 2015, before entering a decline; since 2014 the number of births has fallen each year. As of 2025, the name is given to roughly 1 in every 89,899 boys, placing it among less common Turkish-origin names in America. Although top states for the name are not specified in available data, it is most often found in areas with significant Turkish American communities. Turkish names like Mehmet carry a strong cultural identity, connecting bearers to a heritage that spans both the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey.
Mehmet is the Turkish form of Muhammad, an Arabic name meaning 'praiseworthy' or 'praised'. It has been widely used in Turkey and other Turkic-speaking regions since the Ottoman era, where it was borne by multiple sultans and remains a common given name.
“Mehmet” around the world
Where Mehmet lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Memo
Sibling names for Mehmet
Names that share Mehmet's style, for a brother or sister.
