Furkan
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "criterion" or "distinction".
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the first name Furkan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Furkan today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Furkan births was 2005 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Furkan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
138
~ 1 in 2,483,727 Americans
Peak year
2005
11 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,744
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Furkan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Furkan from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 61 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Furkan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Furkan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Furkans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Furkan
The name Furkan has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "furqan," which means "criterion" or "distinction." The word "furqan" is used in the Quran to refer to the divine revelation and guidance provided by Allah.
In the Quran, the term "furqan" is mentioned several times, including in Surat Al-Anfal (8:41) and Surat Al-Furqan (25:1). The latter surah, which is the 25th chapter of the Quran, is titled "Al-Furqan," emphasizing the importance of this concept in Islamic teachings.
The name Furkan gained popularity among Muslims as a way to express their devotion to the Quran and Islamic principles. It became a common name choice for boys, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Furkan can be found in historical accounts from the 7th century, during the early years of Islamic civilization. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin and first recorded use of the name due to the limited historical records from that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Furkan. One example is Furkan Abdic (1939-2023), a Bosnian politician and military leader who played a significant role during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.
Another prominent individual with the name Furkan was Furkan Palalı (1973-2002), a Turkish journalist and writer who was known for his work on human rights and social issues. He was tragically killed in a car accident at a young age.
In the realm of sports, Furkan Aldemir (born 1991) is a Turkish professional basketball player who has represented Turkey in international competitions and played for various clubs in Europe and Turkey.
Furkan Doğan (born 1992) is a Turkish actor and model who has appeared in several popular television series and films in Turkey.
Furkan Korkmaz (born 1997) is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He is considered one of the promising young talents in Turkish basketball.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Furkan. While the name has its roots in Arabic and Islamic culture, it has been embraced by people from various backgrounds and regions, particularly in the Middle East and parts of Europe.
People
Furkan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Furkan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Furkan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Furkan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 138 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Furkan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,483,727 US residents.
Is Furkan a common name?
We classify Furkan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 140 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Furkan most popular?
The single biggest year for Furkan was 2005, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Furkan is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Furkan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Furkan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.