161 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
Tarik		Boy	Morning star
Irma		Girl	Universal; Whole
Munira		Girl	Glowing, illuminated
Emina		Girl	A trustworthy person
Vadim		Boy	Ruler
Amela		Girl	Work; Effort
Imad		Boy	Pillar; Support; Mainstay
Lejla		Girl	A dark-haired beautiful woman who is born at night
Zehra		Girl	Bright, luminous
Davud		Boy	A variant of David; Beloved
Besim		Boy	A happy soul
Ajdin		Boy	He who is bright, happy and lucky
Ajna		Girl	Real; Original
Ademir		Boy	Noble protector
Alija		Boy	Highly regarded
Vahid		Boy	Single; One
Elvedin		Boy	Benevolence of faith; Gift
Enas		Girl	One with a friendly and jovial demeanor
Almedina		Girl	One who is devoted to faith; One who is civilized
Asja		Girl	A form of Anastasia; Resurrection
Rijad		Boy	Desert gardens
Ekrem		Boy	He who is most noble or most respected
Enes		Boy	He who is sociable
Enis		Boy	One who is friendly
Ismet		Boy	Innocent; Saved from sin
Jusuf		Boy	God increases in strength, power
Samra		Girl	One who is dark or dark-skinned
Mehmed		Boy	Praised
Safan		Boy	He who is brave, bold, and courageous
Enisa		Girl	Friend; Companion
Vedad		Boy	Affection or love
Stas		Boy	Becoming famous
Senad		Boy	Leader; Experienced
Zerin		Boy	Golden
Meliha		Girl	A beautiful woman
Aleza		Girl	Joy; Laughter of Ali
Lajla		Girl	Beauty of the night; Dark haired beauty
Zahida		Girl	She who is restrained; Devoted to God
Ilda		Girl	A heroine in the battle
Lamija		Girl	One with a shining, glowing personality
Merjem		Girl	A form of Mary, meaning bitterness
Berina		Girl	Best; Highest
Merima		Girl	Bosnian form of Mary, meaning star of the sea
Nastasja		Girl	Resurrected through baptism
Muniba		Girl	One who is devoted to God
Elmedina		Girl	One who is devoted to faith or civilized; A variant of Almedina
Nejra		Girl	Sparkle or shine
Yaroslava		Girl	Spring glory
Elizabeta		Girl	My God is abundance
Ilhana		Girl	Melody; Inspiration; Composition
Adelais		Boy	Noble
Ajnur		Boy	Moonlight; Glow of the moon
Andela		Girl	Messenger
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
Besima		Girl	One who is always smiling and happy
Borya		Boy	Battle or war
Daut		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
Emela		Girl	Hope; Inspiration
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
Irmela		Girl	One who is gorgeous, shiny, and radiant
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
Kauzlarich		Boy	Screeching owl
Ljiljan		Boy	Lily flower
Mensur		Boy	Victorious
Merjema		Girl	Bosnian form of Mary, meaning star of the sea
Mersada		Girl	Watchtower or supervision
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
Muris		Boy	One who leaves an inheritance
Murisa		Girl	One who leaves an inheritance
Nebojsa		Boy	Without fear
Nermana		Girl	Hero
Nermina		Girl	A variant of Nermana; Hero

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.