Balkan countries have a very distinct way for you to know if it’s their language or not. In Croatia, most names, words, and phrases often use the letters č, ć, dž, đ, lj, nj, š and ž. Although the new generation might not be using a lot of the traditional Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, you’ll still find these letters in Croatian names.
If you are interested in learning about Croatian names and how they came about, then this article by the Ling app is perfect for you! From unusual and exotic names to traditional names, down to the Croatian form of some foreign names, continue reading to learn more about Croatian!
Croatian Name System
May it be originated from a Croatian word or influenced by a Slavic word, Croatian names are very interesting nouns to ponder. Some might say this country has a fair share of unusual names, but as soon as you look into it, it becomes beautiful and meaningful.
In Croatia’s name system, some names actually have Slavic elements. This is because Croatia is a part of the Slavic language branch. Therefore, it is expected that some words and even names of this language are heavily influenced by it.
The way they structure their names is the same as the Eastern Name Order. Basically, their surnames come up first and then the given name. Another fact about their naming system is that most of their last names end up with the suffix ‘-ić.’ It is also a practice in their culture that women take up the last name of their husbands. This is also applicable to their future child. However, in some occurrences, the woman can keep her last name if she wants to keep it and just hyphen it with her husband’s last name.
Most of their names are influenced by saints, as well as some words from the Croatian vocabulary. Having said that, Croatian first names are not only unique but are a reflection of their culture.
If you are looking for Croatian first names for your future children, or you just want to know about the most popular Croatian names, continue reading!
Croatian Names For Girls
If you are interested in the feminine form of a certain male name or you want to find a shortened version of it, then this might be for you! Because the Croatian language is comprised of different elements, you might be able to find your answer here.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Elena | The Greek version of Helen, which means the bright one |
| Branka | Used to protect the glory |
| Lana | Short form of the name Svetlana |
| Dusana | Soul |
| Jelka | Moon |
| Vesna | Spring |
| Ivan | Gift of God |
| Jaka | Very strong woman |
| Ana | This means favor and is the Croatian form of Anna |
| Dubravka | Oak grove |
| Spomenka | Forget me not |
| Radenka | To work |
| Ema | Means whole and is the Croatian form of Emma |
| Aklina | High regard |
| Petra | Feminine form of Peter which means stone |
| Ljuba | Love |
| Bura | Sea storm |
| Krasna | A beautiful woman |
| Mirna | A calm and tender person |
| Rita | Pearls |
| Seka | Sister |
| Simunka | To hear |
| Zora | Dawn |
| Marta | The lady |
| Vesna | Messenger |
| Visnja | Croatian form of cherry |
| Vjekoslava | Means glory of the ages |
| Capeka | Little stork |
| Studena | Chill |
| Tihana | A quiet person |
| Antea | Rival |
| Antonela | Worthy of praise |
| Radmila | Sweet happiness |
| Sibila | Oracle |
These names are just some of the few names that you can name your future daughter. From empowering names to names that are from nature, we hope that there are a few names that you like! You might even want to memorize some of these names and more Croatian vocabulary on your own.
Don’t look further. A language learning app like Ling will help you in your journey. What are you waiting for? Download it from the App Store and Play Store now!
Croatian Names For Boys
Looking for the perfect name for your baby boy? From common names down to names that have eccentric meanings, these baby names are surely for you. Read on!
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hrvoje | This means Croat, which is actually derived from the Croatian word “hrvat” |
| Jadrankro | The man that belongs to the city, Hadria |
| Andrija | Croatian form of Andrew |
| Ivor | Bow of the warrior |
| Borislav | Battle glory |
| Mateo | Gift of God |
| Leon | Lion |
| Alojzije | This means famous warrior |
| Blago | Blessed boy |
| Grabrijel | The Croatian form of the name Gabriel |
| Karlo | Man with armor |
| Dorijan | Meaning child of the sea |
| Deniel | God is my judge |
| Emerik | Work-power |
| Grgur | A vigilant man |
| Kreo | The creator |
| Vid | Croatian form of Wido which means wood |
| Zunich | Woodpecker |
| Adam | This is of Hebrew origin and it means man |
| Draen | Clever |
| Vanja | Croatian form of the name John |
| Vito | Life |
| Dubravko | Tree |
| Ime | A miracle |
| Jeronim | Saved from harm |
| Kesten | Chestnut |
| Kruno | Glory to the crown |
| Antun | One who is invaluable |
| Zvonimir | Sound of peace |
| Tin | Saint |
| Draen | Clever |
| Alek | Defend |
| Vjeko | The glory of the ages |
| Ljubo | Peace and love |
These are just some of the names that you can name your baby boy! It might be a common name to some. But know that when you look at the meanings of these words, it becomes precious. Apart from that, we have also transformed these names into different forms. Want to learn more about names? There are animal names in Croatian that might be different in English. Cool, right?
The Croatian Culture
Besides Game of Thrones, Croatia is known for numerous reasons. May it be culture, arts, or even the Croatian people, Croatia has already established a good reputation. This is not only limited to Europe but throughout the world as well.
You might ask, “What is so special about this country?” You might only be visiting Croatia because it’s a requirement for your job position. But there are actually many things to do here while visiting. Besides its culture which is filled with so many stories and experiences to tell, Croatia is very diverse. In fact, this diversity spreads across the region and is even celebrated.
Croatia is more than just a hotspot of charming places and good food. It is also a special place because of its people as well. You will surely fall in love with its people, not just the country, since Croatians are known to be kind, friendly, hospitable, and will always have a smile on their faces. What more can you ask for, right?
A beautiful scenic country coupled with kind-hearted and warm people is the perfect combination. So if you are looking for such, please, here on Earth, which is also filled with so much history, especially their language, Croatia is the way to go!
What’s Next?
If these are fun to learn or if this made you curious about learning about the Croatian language more, the Ling app is here to save the day! Equipped with quizzes and activities that not only make it fun, it is super convenient too. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: You get to enjoy, but you also get to learn. Not only can you learn Croatian, but also a variety of languages like Tagalog, Korean, and Thai. This is one of the easiest ways to learn something new.
