Nilüfer

Nilüfer is the Turkish word for "water lily", from Persian niloufar (نیلوفر). It is a popular feminine given name in Turkey and Iran.

The term may specifically refer to:

Given name

Places

Others

Nilüfer Hatun

Nilüfer Hatun (Ottoman Turkish: نیلوفر خاتون‎, birth name Holofira, other names Bayalun, Beylun, Beyalun, Bilun, Suyun, Suylun) was a Valide Hatun; the wife of Orhan, the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She was mother of the next sultan, Murad I. Her other son was Kasim (died 1346). Some older sources also claim she was mother of Orhan's first son, Suleyman Pasha, which is disputed.

Biography

The traditional stories about her origin, traced back to the 15th century, are that she was daughter of the Byzantine ruler (tekfur) of Bilecik, called Holofira. As some stories go, Orhan's father Osman raided Bilecik at the time of Holofira's wedding arriving there with rich presents and disguised and hidden soldiers. Holofira was among the loot and given to Orhan.

However modern researchers doubt this story, admitting that it may have been based on real events. Doubts are based on various secondary evidence and lack of direct documentary evidence of the time. In particular, her Ottoman name Nilüfer meaning water lily in Persian language .

Nilüfer (singer)

Nilüfer Yumlu (born 31 May 1955 in the Cihangir neighborhood of Beyoğlu, Istanbul), commonly known as Nilüfer, is a Turkish pop singer.

In 1992, one of her biggest hits, Show Yapma, included in Yine Yeni Yeniden album. Also Kar Taneleri (1984, Nilüfer '84), Mor Menekşe (1988, Esmer Günler), Esmer Günler (1988, Esmer Günler), Eğrisi Doğrusu (1994, Ne Masal Ne Rüya), Mavilim (1997, Nilüfer'le) and Dünya Dönüyor (1998, Yeniden Yetmişe) are her well-known hits.

Together with the band Nazar, she represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, where she shared 18th place with Seija Simola from Finland. Since 1997 she has been Turkey's National Ambassador to UNICEF. In 1998, she was awarded the honorary title of State Artist of Turkey. She developed breast cancer, but beat the cancer after a nine month treatment.

Discography

References