Mehmet

Mehmet is a Turkish form of Muhammad, carrying the Arabic name's meaning of praised or praiseworthy. Its spelling reflects the way the name developed in Turkish rather than a different underlying meaning. Muhammed is another form used in Turkey, while Mehmet has become recognizable as a name in its own right.

The older spelling Mehmed appears in the names of Ottoman sultans, giving this family a substantial historical presence in Turkish records. Mehmet is also used in Albanian, showing how the form traveled beyond one language community. Families choosing Mehmet may therefore be continuing a Turkish naming tradition, a wider Muslim family connection, or both. The relationship with Muhammad is etymological and religious, while the compact written form preserves the particular character of its Turkish development.