The villages of Altınözü district were examined within the framework of “komonim”, which is called a sub-branch of science that examines village names in terms of various features. As one of the different sub-branches classified within the science of toponomy, komonim examines village names for purposes such as origin (etymology), meaning, naming procedures / traditions, and detection of changes in names. In this context, 45 village settlements in the study area were analysed. Together with 3 urban settlements in the district centre, there are 48 settlements in total in the study area. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used together in the study. The analyses obtained as a result of the literature review were supported by field studies. The old names that the current village names have taken towards the past were first determined. In order to determine the old names of the villages, historical sources, works published by the Ministry of Interior, population statistics of State Institute of Statistics and Turkish Statistical Institute were used. The origins and meanings of the old names were tried to be revealed. Changes in village names from 1940 to the present day were identified. It was determined that the highest number of changes occurred between 1940 and 1960. All over Turkey, the changes made in the village names, which were determined to be non-Turkish, were also applied in the study area. Accordingly, Altınözü district was found to be the district in Hatay province where the most changes were made in village names. Village names were classified according to geographical features. According to this classification, it is understood that there are more village names originating from human environmental characteristics.
Geography, Hatay, Altınözü, Kuseyr Plateau, toponomy, komonim.