162 Bosnian Baby Names With Meanings

Bosnia is a multiethnic, multicultural, and multinational country; the diversity is also mirrored in the Bosnian baby names. Bosnian, a South Slavic language, is the official language of both Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Serbian and Croatian (1). It’s the uniform version of the Croatian-Serbian language. The language comprises Cyrillic and Latin alphabets and has a few Persian, Arabic, and Turkish words in the lexicon. This is primarily due to Bosnian people’s interaction and friendship with these cultures. And this is the reason Turkish, Arabic, and Persian names are used widely in Bosnia. In Bosnia, it’s a common tradition to put the family name first and then the given name. This way of naming is popular among Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, showing how much they value their family connections. You might also notice that many last names end with ‘-ić,’ and some even have ‘-begović’ (2). These endings bring a touch of history to the names, showing the long stories behind them. In Bosnia, last names are often passed down from dads to sons. As a result, it’s common for sons to bear their father’s surname, maintaining a strong link to their family line. After marriage, it’s typical for wives to use their husband’s surnames. This gives the family a sense of belonging and a shared identity (2). Furthermore, the first name or personal name of Bosnians often, but not always, tells about the background and culture of the individual. Bosnian Muslims typically give their children personal names and derivations of the original Arabic name. They also pay extreme importance to the meaning of the name because it has been made clear in the Hadith to pick only beautiful and good names for children. Similarly, Christians and Hebrews residing in Bosnia pick names derived from the Bible, Torah, and Old Testament. If you need help selecting an ideal Bosnian baby name for your child, look at our list below. We’ve handpicked some of the best Bosnian names for boys and girls. Take a look.

Name		Gender	Meaning
Adelais		Boy	Noble
Ademir		Boy	Noble protector
Ajdin		Boy	He who is bright, happy and lucky
Ajna		Girl	Real; Original
Ajnur		Boy	Moonlight; Glow of the moon
Aleza		Girl	Joy; Laughter of Ali
Alija		Boy	Highly regarded
Almedina		Girl	One who is devoted to faith; One who is civilized
Amela		Girl	Work; Effort
Andela		Girl	Messenger
Asja		Girl	A form of Anastasia; Resurrection
Azem		Boy	Big or large
Bahrudin		Boy	Glow of faith
Basic		Boy	Head or headman
Basich		Boy	Head or headman
Beg		Boy	A title of respect
Behrem		Boy	Planet Mars
Berberich		Boy	Barber
Berina		Girl	Best; Highest
Besim		Boy	A happy soul
Besima		Girl	One who is always smiling and happy
Borya		Boy	Battle or war
Daut		Boy	A variant of David; Beloved
Davud		Boy	A variant of David; Beloved
Dedic		Boy	Grandfather
Edhem		Boy	Dark-skinned; Black
Ejub		Boy	Bosnian version of the name Ayub; Returning to God; Repenting
Ekrem		Boy	He who is most noble or most respected
Elizabeta		Girl	My God is abundance
Elmedina		Girl	One who is devoted to faith or civilized; A variant of Almedina
Elvedin		Boy	Benevolence of faith; Gift
Emela		Girl	Hope; Inspiration
Emina		Girl	A trustworthy person
Enas		Girl	One with a friendly and jovial demeanor
Enes		Boy	He who is sociable
Enis		Boy	One who is friendly
Enisa		Girl	Friend; Companion
Esad		Boy	One who is very lucky
Fahreta		Girl	Fame; Greatness; Brilliance
Fahrudin		Boy	Pride of faith
Feriz		Boy	One who is lucky or fortunate
Fikret		Boy	Thought
Fikreta		Girl	Thought
Galiba		Girl	Winner
Ganib		Boy	Blessed by rich loot or winnings
Hamdija		Boy	The praised one
Hasnija		Girl	Beauty
Husnija		Boy	Bosnian form of Husain; Handsome
Ifeta		Girl	Innocent; Virtuous
Ilda		Girl	A heroine in the battle
Ilhana		Girl	Melody; Inspiration; Composition
Imad		Boy	Pillar; Support; Mainstay
Irma		Girl	Universal; Whole
Irmela		Girl	One who is gorgeous, shiny, and radiant
Ismet		Boy	Innocent; Saved from sin
Ismeta		Girl	Innocent; Saved from sin
Izet		Boy	Greatness; Glory
Izeta		Girl	Power; Influence
Izudin		Boy	Power; Glory of faith
Jasminka		Girl	Bosnian term for Jasmine
Jusuf		Boy	God increases in strength, power
Kauzlarich		Boy	Screeching owl
Lajla		Girl	Beauty of the night; Dark haired beauty
Lamija		Girl	One with a shining, glowing personality
Lejla		Girl	A dark-haired beautiful woman who is born at night
Ljiljan		Boy	Lily flower
Mehmed		Boy	Praised
Meliha		Girl	A beautiful woman
Mensur		Boy	Victorious
Merima		Girl	Bosnian form of Mary, meaning star of the sea
Merjem		Girl	A form of Mary, meaning bitterness
Merjema		Girl	Bosnian form of Mary, meaning star of the sea
Mersada		Girl	Watchtower or supervision
Mersiha		Unisex	Grateful or thankful
Mesich		Boy	Turkish form of Mohammed, meaning praise or praiseworthy
Mineta		Girl	One who is merciful and generous
Mirzeta		Girl	Princess
Mubera		Girl	She who is innocent and respected
Muharem		Boy	Sacred; Forbidden; Holy
Muniba		Girl	One who is devoted to God
Munira		Girl	Glowing, illuminated
Muris		Boy	One who leaves an inheritance
Murisa		Girl	One who leaves an inheritance
Nastasja		Girl	Resurrected through baptism
Nebojsa		Boy	Without fear
Nejra		Girl	Sparkle or shine
Nermana		Girl	Hero
Nermina		Girl	A variant of Nermana; Hero
Nihada		Girl	Character; Temper
Nijaz		Boy	Wish; Need or want
Nijaza		Girl	Wish or need
Nisveta		Girl	Bosnian term for woman
Nurija		Boy	Light
Nusret		Boy	Victory; Help
Nusreta		Girl	Victory; Help
Ornela		Girl	Black ash tree
Ozanich		Boy	Bard
Preben		Boy	First in battle
Razija		Girl	She who is satisfied or content with her life.
Refija		Girl	She who is tall and pretty

Bosnian baby names serve as a reminder of the beauty that lies in preserving and respecting one’s roots in a world where ethnic fusion is becoming more popular. Names like Azem, Basich, and Tarik function as cultural and traditional identities enabling parents to pass on a piece of their legacy to the next generation. First names serve as cultural signs, while family names reflect an honored heritage, creating names rich in legacy. The naming system in Bosnia is a window to unity, an intersection of religion and the whispered stories of ancestors.

Infographic: Beautiful Bosnian Baby Names That You Will Love

These names, embedded in Bosnia's rich and diverse history, convey power, unity, and originality. Bosnian naming conventions are more than just labels; they represent a harmonious fusion of faith, culture, and language. Explore our selected list of Bosnian baby names if you're looking for a name that's more than just a label - a name that's a legacy.

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Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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