 Shafak was born in Strasbourg to philosopher Nuri Bilgin and Şafak Atayman, who later became a diplomat.After her parents' separated, Shafak returned to Ankara, Turkey, where she was raised by her mother and grandmother.She says that growing up in a dysfunctional family was difficult in many ways, but that growing up in a non-patriarchal environment had a positive impact on her.