Ankara as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ankara

What is the meaning of the name Ankara ?

The baby name Ankara is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˈæŋkərə/ (ANG-kuh-ruh); Turkish: [aŋˈkaɾa] (ahn-KAH-rah).

Ankara is Turkish in Origin.

Ankara is a toponymic given name taken from the capital of Türkiye. The city’s name, Turkish Ankara, descends from classical Ancyra (Greek ánkyra), a word meaning “anchor”; a local legend links it to an anchor found by King Midas. Through centuries of trade the Western exonym Angora also circulated, lending the name textile associations (Angora wool, goat, and rabbit). As a personal name, Ankara is rare but intelligible across languages and carries the anchored symbolism of stability and hope.

Usage has emerged since the late 20th century as part of the broader trend of place-inspired names, with occasional use in Turkish, English, and diaspora communities; it reads as unisex. Variants and related forms include Ancyra, Angora, and stylistic spellings like An’kara; short forms Anka or Kara occur. The name also echoes the colorful “Ankara” wax-print fabrics celebrated in West Africa.

⚙ Ankara is a rare find. Our records hold just 67 recorded uses, spread over 25 countries.