OP here. Thanks for the other suggestions. I don't actually think Daron is a Turkish name. Perhaps you meant Derin? Although both Derin and Deniz (and Derya too) are unisex names I know mostly females with those names so I'm not keen on them for a little boy. Based on what you all are saying, I am thinking Ziya and Emre are probably off the list too. Am reconsidering Aslan too - I hadn't really thought too much about the Narnia books. Actually, aslan means lion in Turkish!

What about Deniz?

I'll also suggest Hakan and Daron.

I like Emre and Aslan as well. I agree that Aydin will always be pronounced like Aidan here.

Really like Aslan and Evran.

Would love Ziya for a girl.

I like Emre, and it doesn't sound feminine to me, but I lived in Turkey for a few years so I'm definitely biased.

I also really like Kaya, but that one does seem like a girls' name without any context.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that C.S. Lewis ruined Aslan.

I don't know. Aslan is a heroic, powerful, and magical creature in the book - all good traits. But he is presented as a Jesus figure which may not suit OP depending on her religous or cultural background.

Actually, in my opinion, Aslan does some awful things (starting with not allowing Susan into heaven because she likes lipstick and nylons and parties), except that C.S. Lewis wants us to think they're good, because Jesus. But actually that's not what I meant. I just meant that, because of Narnia, a lot of people in English-speaking countries will think of Aslan the lion when they hear the name Aslan.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Several Turkish boys names sound sort of feminine in English. One of my favorites, Kaya, which means rock and sounds really strong and masculine in Turkey, totally sounds like a girls name in the US. Anyone else think Ziya and Emre also sound feminine? Thanks again you guys!

I agree Kaya, Ziva, and Emre may be assumed to be feminine names by Americans not familiar with Turkish culture. How is Kaya pronounced? Would Kai be similar? Kai is not common (and a bit surfer dude), but I think most people would read it as a masculine name.
I agree with PPs who think Evren would work well within the US.

Anonymous wrote:I think that C.S. Lewis ruined Aslan.

I don't know. Aslan is a heroic, powerful, and magical creature in the book - all good traits. But he is presented as a Jesus figure which may not suit OP depending on her religous or cultural background.

I think that C.S. Lewis ruined Aslan.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Several Turkish boys names sound sort of feminine in English. One of my favorites, Kaya, which means rock and sounds really strong and masculine in Turkey, totally sounds like a girls name in the US. Anyone else think Ziya and Emre also sound feminine? Thanks again you guys!

Yes, they sound feminine in English. And I'm German--meaning very familiary with Turkish names/culture.

(I like Aslan, fwiw)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love Aslan and Emre, but the rest are nice, too!

Me too

Me three! Great names, OP.

OP here again. Several Turkish boys names sound sort of feminine in English. One of my favorites, Kaya, which means rock and sounds really strong and masculine in Turkey, totally sounds like a girls name in the US. Anyone else think Ziya and Emre also sound feminine? Thanks again you guys!

I like Emre.

I also like Ender.

Anonymous wrote:Love Aslan and Emre, but the rest are nice, too!

Me too

Just a data point for you - not knowing Turkish, as an uninformed American just reading the names on paper alone I would have guessed (incorrectly, obviously) that Ziya and Emre were girls' names.