List of sons and daughters of the city of Istanbul

The list of sons and daughters of the city of Istanbul contains an overview of important personalities born in today's Istanbul , formerly Constantinople , listed in alphabetical order.

Born before 1923

A.

Abdülhamid II (1842–1918), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Abdülmecid II (1868–1944), last caliph of the Ottoman Empire
Mkrtitsch Ajemian (1838–1917), Armenian poet
Ghevond Alişan (1820–1901), Armenian Catholic clergyman, scientist and writer
Anais (1872–1950), Armenian writer
Artin Pascha Tschrakian , Trade and Foreign Minister in Egypt of Armenian origin
Leyla Achba (1898–1931), princess at the Ottoman court
Halide Edip Adıvar (1884–1964), Turkish poet, revolutionary and writer
Aelia Pulcheria (399–453), regent of the Eastern Roman Empire
Diran Alexanian (1881–1954), Armenian cellist, composer and music teacher
Alexios II , Byzantine emperor from 1180
Ferid Alnar (1906–1978), Turkish composer
Andronikos III. , Byzantine emperor from 1328
Eugène Michel Antoniadi (1870–1944), astronomer who made maps of Mars and Mercury
Orhon Murat Arıburnu (1918–1989), author
Hacı Arif Bey (1831–1885), Ottoman composer
Heranush Arshakian (1887–1905), Armenian poet
Zabel Asadur (1863–1934), Armenian writer
Nihal Atsız (1905–1975), author
Necdet Mahfi Ayral (1908-2004), Turkish actor

B.

Arsen Komitas Bagratuni (1790–1866), Armenian poet
Garabed Amira Balyan (1800–1866), architect
Ümit Haluk Bayülken (1921–2007), diplomat and politician
Nihat Bekdik (1902–1972), football player
Lem'i Belger (* 1910), dentist, assistant to Alfred Kantorowicz and professor of dentistry in Istanbul
Seyla Benhabib (* 1950), philosopher and political scientist
Carl Franz Joseph Anton Benedek (1902–1967), Austrian artist
Nora von Beroldingen (1889–1953), German journalist
Aghavni-Zabel Binemeciyan (1865–1915), Armenian actress
Agnes Bluhm (1862–1943), German doctor
Aydın Boysan (1921–2018), architect and columnist

C.

Fevzi Çakmak (1876–1950), Chief of Staff
Domenico Caloyera (1915-2007), Roman Catholic Archbishop
Cornelius Castoriadis (1922–1997), Greek psychoanalyst, lawyer and resistance fighter
Sakallı Celâl (1886–1962), Istanbul original and philosopher
Melih Cevdet (1915-2002), writer
André Chénier (1762–1794), poet

D.

Muhibbe Darga (1921–2018), archaeologist
Daud Pascha Artin (1816–1873), Ottoman governor of Lebanon of Armenian origin
Eghia Demircibaşian (1851–1908), Armenian writer
Sirarpie Der Nersessian (1896–1989), Armenian art historian
Agop Dilâçar (1895–1979), professor and Turkologist
Johannes Diodato , Greek trader and founder of the first Viennese coffee house

E.

Habib Edib (1890–1968), journalist and newspaper founder
Ismail Enver (1881–1922), politician, general and minister of war of the Ottoman Empire, young Turkish nationalist
Ulvi Cemal Erkin (1906–1972), composer
Mehmet Âkif Ersoy (1873–1936), poet
Semavi Eyice (1922–2018), art historian and Byzantinist

F.

Henri Fayol (1841–1925), mining engineer
Tevfik Fikret (1867-1915), Turkish poet

G

Zaruhi Galemkarian (1874–1971), Armenian writer
Charles Gérard (1922–2019), French film actor and director of Armenian origin
Vladimir Ghika (1873–1954), Romanian diplomat, Roman Catholic clergyman and beatified martyr
Calouste Gulbenkian (1869–1955), Armenian petroleum industrialist and philanthropist

H

Ahmed Hikmet (1870-1927), Turkish writer
Alfred Huber (1910–1986), German national soccer player

I.

Ibrahim Dervish Pasha (1817-1896), Turkish general
Halil İnalcık (1916–2016), Turkish historian
Indra (1875–1921), Armenian writer
Hagop Iskender (1871–1949), Armenian-Turkish photographer

J

Jeruhan (1870–1915), Armenian writer
Zabel Isaiah (1878–1943), Armenian writer
John II (1087–1143), Byzantine emperor
John VI (≈1295–1383), Byzantine emperor
John VIII (1392–1448), Byzantine emperor
Julian (331 / 32–363), Roman Emperor from 361 to 363

K

Srpuhi Nschan Kalfayan (1822–1889), founder of the Armenian order
Orhan Veli Kanık (1914–1950), poet
Jeranuhi Karakaschian (1848–1924), Armenian actress
Verkine Karakaschian (1856–1933), Armenian actress
Elia Kazan (1909–2003), American director and writer
Schamram Kelleciyan (1870–1955), Armenian chanson singer
Anna Komnena (1083–1154), Byzantine historian
Yeremia Tschelebi Kömürdjian (1637–1695), Armenian poet, printer, historian, educator, musician, miniaturist and translator
Constantine VII (905–959), Byzantine emperor
Fahri Korutürk (1903–1987), politician and admiral
Richard von Kühlmann (1873–1948), German diplomat
Ohannnes Pascha Kuyumdschian (1858–1933), last Armenian-Ottoman governor of Lebanon

L.

Hans Lange (1884–1960), German-American conductor (including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Theotoros Lapchindschian (1873–1928), Armenian author and researcher
Leo VI (866–912), Byzantine emperor since 886
John P. Livadary (1896–1987), American film sound engineer

M.

Sabri Mahir (1890–?), Turkish football player, boxer and boxing coach
Mahmud II. (1785–1839), 1808–1839 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Theodor Makridi (1872–1940), Greek-Turkish archaeologist
Arif Müfid Mansel (1905–1975), Turkish classical archaeologist
Haiganouche Mark (1883–1966), Armenian suffragette , teacher, journalist and writer

Julius Martow (1873–1923), Russian politician

Mehmed Emin Ali Pasha (1815–1871), Ottoman statesman

Ahmet Muhtar Merter (1891–1959), resistance fighter against the Greek occupation in the Greco-Turkish War

Michael I (≈1000–1059), Patriarch of Constantinople

Michael III (839–867), Byzantine emperor

Mardiros Minakyan (1837–1920), Armenian actor, theater director and founder of modern Turkish theater

Michael Psellos (1017/18 – ≈1078), Byzantine historian

Leone Minassian (1905–1978), Italian painter of Armenian descent

Abraham Constantin Mouradgea d'Ohsson (1779–1851), French-Armenian Mongolist

Murad V (1840–1904), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Jerry Murad (1918–1996), American harmonica player

N

Nerses II. Varjapetian (1837-1884), Armenian church leader
Aziz Nesin (1915–1995), educator and writer
Nikephorus III. (≈1010–1081), Byzantine emperor
Nureddin al-Jerrahi (1678–1721), Islamic mystic and founder of the Jerrahi dervish order

O

Olympias of Constantinople (≈368–408), deaconess and abbess
Malachia Ormanian (1841–1918), Armenian church leader

P

Fatma Pesend (1876–1924), 11th wife of Sultan Abdülhamid II.
Photius I (820–891), Patriarch of Constantinople
Mario Prassinos (1916–1985), Greco-French painter
Proclus (412–485), Greek philosopher

R.

Erwin H. Rainalter (1892–1960), Austrian writer
Mustafa Reşid Pascha (1800–1858), Ottoman politician

S.

Leylâ Saz (1850–1936), Turkish composer
Levon Schant (1869–1951), Armenian playwright, writer, poet, and founder of the "Foundation of National Culture"
Rudolph Schildkraut (1862–1930), American-Austrian film actor
Koharik Schirinian (1865–1935), Armenian actress
Socrates Scholastikos (4th / 5th century), Christian church historian
Shahan Shahnour (1903–1974), Armenian writer
Levon Shant (1869–1951), Armenian writer
Siamanto (1878-1915), Armenian poet
Suleyman II (1642–1691), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1687 to 1691

T

Haldun Taner (1915–1986), Turkish writer
Tatyos Efendi (1855–1913), composer
Johannes Tcholakian (1919–2016), Armenian Catholic Archbishop
Vahan Tekeyan (1878–1945), Armenian poet
Tovmas Terzian (1840–1909), Armenian librettist and writer
Theodora Komnena (1145/46 - after 1185), Queen of Jerusalem
Theophanes , Byzantine monk and historian
Mikayel Tschamtschian (1738–1823), Armenian author and historian
Minas Tscheras (1852–1929), Armenian writer and politician
Kaspar Tscherasian († 1821), Armenian politician
Onnik Tschifte-Saraf (1874–1932), Armenian writer
Arshag Tschobanian (1872–1954), Armenian writer and publicist
Bedros Turian (1851–1872), Armenian poet
Johannes Tzimiskes (924–976), Byzantine emperor

V

Ulya Vogt-Göknil (1921–2014), architectural historian

Y

Ali Sami Yen (1886–1951), founder of the football club "Galatasaray Spor Kulübü"
Alexander Ypsilantis (1792–1828), Russian general in the struggle for Greek independence
Dimitrios Ypsilantis (1793–1832), Dragoman, officer in the Russian tsarist army in the Moldova region and first field marshal of modern Greece

Z

Marcel Zanini (* 1923), French musician
Zekai Dede (1825-1897), Turkish composer
Krikor Zohrab (1861–1915), Armenian writer and Ottoman parliamentarian

Born after the founding of the Republic of Turkey (1923)

A.

Korhan Abay (born 1954), actor
Farah Zeynep Abdullah (* 1989), actress
Sarp Ağabigün (* 1997), tennis player
Nihat Akbay (1945-2020), football goalkeeper
Lale Akgün (* 1953), German politician
Fatih Akyel (* 1977), football player
Kerem Can Akyüz (* 1989), football player
Buket Alakuş (* 1971), director
Zeki Alasya (1943–2015), actor, film director and screenwriter
Eren Albayrak (born 1991), football player
Atilla Aldemir (* 1975), violinist
Tuna Altuna (* 1989), tennis player
Can Arat (* 1984), football player
Engin Arık (1948–2007), physicist
Eşref Armağan (* 1955), painter
Yüksel Arslan (1933–2017), Turkish-French artist
Kaan Arslanoğlu (* 1959), writer
Can Artam (* 1981), racing driver
Duygu Asena (1946–2006), journalist, writer and women's rights activist
Suat Atalık (* 1964), chess master
Naz Aydemir (* 1990), volleyball player
Yalçın Ayhan (* 1982), football player

B.

Ali Müfit Bahadır (* 1947), German chemist
Sedat Balkanlı (1965–2009), football player
Can Bartu (1936-2019), football player
Oya Baydar (* 1940), writer and journalist
Emre Belözoğlu (* 1980), football player
Esther Benbassa (* 1950), French historian, university professor and politician (Greens)
Jess Benhabib (born 1948), economist and university professor
Seyla Benhabib (* 1950), professor of political theory
Sevan Boyaciyan (* 1966), Armenian-German concert guitarist
Okan Buruk (* 1973), football player
Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt (1940-2019), Chief of Staff

C.

Hakan Can (* 1972), German actor
İsmail Cem (1940–2007), journalist and politician
Nuri Bilge Ceylan (* 1959), film director, screenwriter, film producer and photographer
Tansu Çiller (* 1946), politician
Nevin Çokay (1930–2012), painter
Cengiz Coşkun (* 1982), model and actor

D.

Vahakn N. Dadrian (1926–2019), Armenian sociologist
Oğuz Dağlaroğlu (* 1979), football goalkeeper
Betül Demir (* 1980), pop singer
Volkan Demirel (* 1981), soccer goalkeeper
Uğur Demirok (* 1988), football player
Yıldırım Demirören (born 1964), businessman
Hasan Dere (* 1984), actor
Oktay Derelioğlu (* 1975), football player
Murat Didin (* 1955), basketball coach
Ömer Diler (1945–2005), numismatist and author
Burhan Cahit Doğançay (1929–2013), Turkish-American painter and photographer
Ercan Durmaz (born 1965), actor

E.

Ihsan Ece (* 1949), German-Turkish painter and object artist
Bülent Ecevit (1925–2006), social democratic politician in Turkey
Nazım Ekren (* 1956), politician
Arslan Ekşi (* 1985), volleyball player
Leyla Erbil (1931–2013), writer
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (* 1954), politician and prime minister
Sertab Erener (* 1964), pop singer
Kudsi Ergüner (* 1952), Nay player and composer
Ayse Erkmen (* 1949), object artist and sculptor
Mehmet Ersoy (* 1968), politician and entrepreneur
Aydın Esen (* 1962), jazz musician and composer
Yonca Evcimik (* 1963), pop musician

F.

Önder Focan (* 1955), jazz musician
Christo Fotew (1934–2002), Bulgarian writer
Füruzan (* 1935), writer

G

Leyla Gencer (1928-2008), opera singer
Yılmaz Gökdel (1940–2019), football player and coach
Demir Gökgöl (1937–2012), actor
Heinz Grossekettler (1939–2019), German economist
Ara Guler (1928–2018), Armenian photographer
Ebru Gündeş (* 1974), singer
Serpil Güvenç (* 1948), author, translator and politician
Tuğba Güvenç (* 1994), medium-distance and obstacle runner

H

Tunç Hamarat (* 1946), Austrian chess player of Turkish descent
Katja Husen (* 1976), German politician and Member of the Bundestag

I.

Abdi İpekçi (1929–1979), journalist and editor-in-chief
Cem İlkel (* 1995), tennis player
Volkan Işık (* 1967), rally driver

J

Manfred Jenke (1931–2018), German journalist and publicist

K

Nihat Kahveci (* 1979), football player
Cemal Kamacı (* 1943), professional boxer
Tchéky Karyo (* 1953), French film actor
Mehmet Kasapoğlu (* 1976), politician
Ida Kavafian (* 1952), American violinist, violist and music teacher
Erol Keskin (1927-2016), football player
Coşkun Kırca (1927–2005), journalist, diplomat and politician
Erkin Koray (* 1941), singer
Arghyris Kounadis (1924–2011), Greek composer
Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1925–2012), football player
Baykal Kulaksızoğlu (* 1983), Swiss-Turkish football player
Orhan Kural (* 1950), mineralogist and author

L.

Thomas Laqueur (* 1945), American historian of culture and science

M.

Perihan Mağden (* 1960), journalist and writer
Etyen Mahçupyan (* 1950), Armenian-Turkish journalist
Barış Manço (1943–1999), singer and entertainer
Arif Mardin (1932-2006), music producer
Petros Markaris (* 1937), Greek writer
Mesrop II. Mutafyan (1956–2019), Archbishop and Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Constantinople

N

Adile Naşit (1930–1987), Turkish-Armenian comedian of Turkish film
Ali Nesin (* 1956), mathematician
Özdemir Nutku (1931–2019), theater scholar, author and director

O

Orhan Okan (* 1969), German actor
Ibrahim Okyay (* 1969), racing driver
Serdar Ortaç (* 1970), singer
Coşkun Özarı (1931–2011), football player and coach
Ferzan Özpetek (* 1959), film director and screenwriter

P

Orhan Pamuk (* 1952), writer
Ajda Pekkan (born 1946), singer and actress
Akif Pirinçci (* 1959), German-Turkish crime novelist

S.

Gizem Saka (* 1978), artist and economist
Mustafa Sandal (* 1970), musician
Erol Sander (* 1968), German actor of Turkish origin
Ergican Saydam (1929–2009), pianist and musicologist
Saam Schlamminger (* 1966), musician
Giovanni Scognamillo (1929–2016), film critic and actor
Pinar Selek (* 1971), peace activist
Sinan Selen (* 1972), German administrative lawyer and Vice President of the BfV
Tuna Serim (* 1950), journalist, television and radio presenter, novelist and screenwriter
Serdar Somuncu (* 1968), German actor and director
Süleyman Soylu (* 1969), Turkish politician

T

Cüneyt Tanman (* 1956), football player
Baha Targün (* 1943), journalist and author
Okay Temiz (* 1939), jazz and fusion musician
Behice Tezçakar Özdemir (* 1979), historian and author
Erdoğan Teziç (1936–2017), legal scholar and former President of the University Council (YÖK)
Sabri Tuluğ Tırpan (* 1970), pianist, composer
Onno Tunç (1948–1996), musician, composer and arranger
Arto Tunçboyacıyan (* 1957), fusion and world musician
Arda Turan (born 1987), football player
Derya Türkan (* 1973), interpreter of classical Turkish music
İlter Türkmen (* 1927), diplomat and politician
Hedo Türkoğlu (* 1979), basketball player

U

Uğur Uçar (* 1987), football player
Çağatay Ulusoy (* 1990), actor and model

V

Anestis S. Veletsos (1927-2018), American engineering scientist
Johannes Vennekamp (* 1935), German artist

Y

Aytaç Yalman (1940-2020), General
Uğur Yücel (* 1957), actor, cabaret artist, film director and producer

Z

Garbis Zakaryan (1930-2020), boxer
Lévon Boghos Zékian (* 1943), Armenian Catholic Bishop, Apostolic Administrator of Istanbul
Dieter Zetsche (* 1953), Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG