As the founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk played a vital role in shaping modern Turkey. Ataturk's legacy is commemorated throughout the country in many ways including through street names, monuments, and statues. Some synonyms for Ataturk that you may encounter in Turkey include "Father of the Nation," "Founder of Modern Turkey," "Gazi Ataturk," or simply "Ataturk." Although some may use the phrase "Ataturkism" or "Kemalism" to refer to his political ideology, Ataturk himself rejected the idea of creating his own "ism." Instead, he encouraged Turks to embrace change and modernization to build a better future for their country.