226 Croatian Baby Names With Meanings

croatian-baby-names-with-meanings

Croatian baby names are infused with profound meanings and a distinct sense of identity, reflecting the nation's unique heritage. They have influences from Slavic roots, historical figures, and the picturesque landscapes of this Adriatic country. From traditional names honoring revered saints to modern titles inspired by nature's wonders, Croatian baby names resonate with beauty. Croatian is the standard language of Croatia and one of the official languages of the European Union (1). Being a South Slavic language, most Croatian vocabulary is derived from the Slavic branch of the Indo-European language (2). When the Croats arrived in Croatia, they used Slavic names and corresponding naming customs. These customs changed when the Catholic church decided during the Council of Trent that all Christians must have Christian names instead of native ones. In the 19th century, however, Slavic first names made a comeback. Croatians now follow a unique, slightly complex structuring, lettering, naming custom, and composition, similar to most European naming systems. Croatia mainly shares its naming conventions with the other West Balkan countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. They tend to use their family name first, followed by their personal name. These family names often have the -ić suffix, often written as -ic, or the suffixes -ević or -ović. Sometimes, these family names can indicate a person’s ethnicity or cultural background. For instance, Mustafagić contains the element Mustafa, indicating Islamic or Turkish origins (3). Although Croatian surnames are Slavic and sometimes go through anglicization for easy pronunciation, given names in Croatia are influenced by the names of other countries. Even the given names list has expanded to include borrowed names from all over the world. So, if you’re looking for Croatian baby name suggestions, you have landed at the right place. Below is our compilation of Croatian baby names with meanings.

NameGenderMeaning
heart image Adrijana Baby Girl Sign Girl Croatian variant of Adriana; From Adria
heart image Aklina Baby Girl Sign Girl Adoration; Admiration; High regard; Worship
heart image Alojz Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous Warrior
heart image Alojzije Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous warrior
heart image Ana Baby Girl Sign Girl Favor; Grace; Merciful
heart image Andreja Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Andrew; Manly or masculine
heart image Andrija Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Andrew; Warrior or manly
heart image Antea Baby Girl Sign Girl Rival; Feminine form of Antaeus
heart image Antonela Baby Girl Sign Girl Worthy of praise; Croatian form of Antonella
heart image Antonijo Baby Boy Sign Boy Worthy of praise; Croatian form of Antonella
heart image Antun Baby Boy Sign Boy Invaluable
heart image Arijana Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble spirit; Noble princess
heart image Baldo Baby Boy Sign Boy Protect the king
heart image Bartol Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of Talmai
heart image Bartolomej Baby Boy Sign Boy Ploughman
heart image Basia Baby Girl Sign Girl Foreign woman
heart image Biserka Baby Girl Sign Girl Pearl
heart image Blago Baby Boy Sign Boy A gentle, mild and blessed boy
heart image Blagoje Baby Boy Sign Boy Mild, gentle and blessed boy; Variant of Blago
heart image Borislav Baby Boy Sign Boy Battle glory
heart image Bozica Baby Girl Sign Girl A goddess; Diminutive for the name Bozena
heart image Branimira Baby Girl Sign Girl Feminine form of Branimir; Peaceful world
heart image Branka Baby Girl Sign Girl Protection of glory
heart image Bura Baby Girl Sign Girl Woman like a sea storm
heart image Capeka Baby Girl Sign Girl A little stork
heart image Dalmat Baby Boy Sign Boy Sheep
heart image Damjan Baby Boy Sign Boy To tame
heart image Danaboth Baby Boy Sign Boy Valley; A person from Denmark
heart image Darijo Baby Boy Sign Boy To possess
heart image David Baby Boy Sign Boy Beloved
heart image Davorin Baby Boy Sign Boy God of war
heart image Dejana Baby Girl Sign Girl God is combining
heart image Deniel Baby Boy Sign Boy A variant of Daniel; God is my judge
heart image Dijana Baby Girl Sign Girl Divine; Like a goddess
heart image Dinko Baby Boy Sign Boy Sovereign, lord, patron, or organizer
heart image Dinora Baby Girl Sign Girl A form of the Hebrew name Dinah; Avenged
heart image Dmitar Baby Boy Sign Boy The one who loves the earth
heart image Domagoj Baby Boy Sign Boy Home; Grow; Heal; Nurture
heart image Dorijan Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Dorian; Child of the sea
heart image Draen Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is clever
heart image Dragutin Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is dear and precious
heart image Drazen Baby Boy Sign Boy Dragon; Precious
heart image Drevan Baby Boy Sign Boy Dear and beloved one
heart image Dubravka Baby Girl Sign Girl An oak grove
heart image Dubravko Baby Boy Sign Boy Grove; Tree
heart image Duko Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous wolf
heart image Dusana Baby Girl Sign Girl Soul
heart image Elena Baby Girl Sign Girl Bright one
heart image Elizabetha Baby Girl Sign Girl God is a satisfaction provider
heart image Ema Baby Girl Sign Girl Whole; Great
heart image Emerik Baby Boy Sign Boy Work-power
heart image Filip Baby Boy Sign Boy A horse lover
heart image Frane Baby Boy Sign Boy Free man
heart image Franjo Baby Boy Sign Boy Free man
heart image Freja Baby Girl Sign Girl Lady; Goddess of beauty, love, and war
heart image Gabrijel Baby Boy Sign Boy God is my strong man
heart image Gabrijela Baby Girl Sign Girl Woman of God
heart image Grga Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is watchful and alert
heart image Grgur Baby Boy Sign Boy A watchful and vigilant man
heart image Hrvoje Baby Boy Sign Boy Derived from the Croatian Hrvat meaning, Croat
heart image Ilija Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Elijah; My God is Yahweh
heart image Ime Baby Boy Sign Boy A miracle
heart image Imun Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is clean and immune
heart image Ivan Baby Girl Sign Girl Yahweh is gracious
heart image Ivana Baby Girl Sign Girl Yahweh is gracious
heart image Ivano Baby Boy Sign Boy God is gracious
heart image Ivica Baby Boy Sign Boy Graced by Yahweh
heart image Ivona Baby Girl Sign Girl Croatian form of Yvonne, Yew
heart image Ivor Baby Boy Sign Boy Bow of the warrior
heart image Jadran Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is named after the Adriatic sea
heart image Jadranka Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman named after the Adriatic sea
heart image Jadranko Baby Boy Sign Boy A man who belongs to Hadria or from Hadria
heart image Jadrian Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is like the Adriatic sea
heart image Jadrien Baby Girl Sign Girl She has eyes the color of the Adriatic sea
heart image Jaka Baby Girl Sign Girl A very strong woman
heart image Jakov Baby Boy Sign Boy May God watch over you
heart image Javor Baby Boy Sign Boy Maple tree
heart image Jelka Baby Girl Sign Girl Torch or moon
heart image Jerko Baby Boy Sign Boy Sacred name
heart image Jeronim Baby Boy Sign Boy Protected from harm; Holy name
heart image Josipa Baby Girl Sign Girl Croatian form of Josephine; He will add
heart image Jozo Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian version of Joseph; God will add
heart image Jure Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian version of George, farmer or earth worker
heart image Jurica Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Simon, farmer.
heart image Karlo Baby Boy Sign Boy Man with armor
heart image Keften Baby Boy Sign Boy Chestnut; Naughty and nurturing
heart image Kesten Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian word for chestnut
heart image Klaudija Baby Girl Sign Girl She is lame and crippled
heart image Klimentina Baby Girl Sign Girl Kind and sparing
heart image Krasna Baby Girl Sign Girl A beautiful woman.
heart image Kreo Baby Boy Sign Boy I create or the creator.
heart image Kristijan Baby Boy Sign Boy Croatian form of Christian, meaning follower of Christ.
heart image Kristofor Baby Boy Sign Boy The worshipper of Christ
heart image Krsto Baby Boy Sign Boy Cross
heart image Kruno Baby Boy Sign Boy Short form of Krunoslav. It means glory to the crown.
heart image Krunoslav Baby Boy Sign Boy Glory to the crown.
heart image Lana Baby Girl Sign Girl Small rock; Afloat
heart image Leon Baby Boy Sign Boy Lion
heart image Ljuba Baby Girl Sign Girl Love
heart image Ljubo Baby Boy Sign Boy Peace and love
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Croatian baby names present an enchanting representation of the country's cultural inheritance and linguistic refinement. From ancient Slavic roots to contemporary inspirations drawn from Croatia's stunning landscapes, each name bears profound importance and treasured connections to forefathers. These names exude a timeless appeal that resonates with parents seeking a name that embodies cultural identity and pride. Embracing a Croatian baby name becomes a heartfelt celebration of the past, honoring treasured customs and a joyful embrace of the future.

Infographic: Captivating Croatian Baby Names With Meanings

Embrace the rich cultural heritage of Croatia with baby names from this vibrant culture. Dive into the world of Croatian names and find the perfect name that echoes beauty and uniqueness. The infographic below presents Croatian baby names with meanings. Read on and pick a suitable name for your newborn.

classic croatian names for your little one (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the top Croatian baby names with biblical origins?

Some most used and top-rated Croatian names with biblical origins include Ivan (Yahweh is gracious), Marko (a form of the name Mark, related to Saint Mark, the writer of the second gospel of the New Testament), Luka (from Lucania), David (one of the kings of Israel who is believed to have preceded Jesus), and Josip (He will add).

2. Are there any traditional Croatian baby names that can be used for both genders?

Aljoša (helper or defender), Andreja (masculine), Borislav (battle glory), and Capeka (a little stork) are examples of traditional Croatian unisex names.

3. What are ancient Croatian names?

Examples of ancient Croatian names include Branimir, believed to have been derived from the Slavic elements. For instance, ‘borna’ means ‘protection’, and ‘miru’ means ‘peace.’ Domagoj, a combination of the Slavic elements ‘domu’ meaning ‘home’ and ‘gojiti’ meaning ‘nature’, Miroslav, derives itself from the Slavic elements ‘miru’ and ‘slava,’ meaning ‘peace’ and ‘glory,’ respectively. Similarly, Borna derived from ‘borti’, meaning fight or battle’ in Slavic. These names are considered to be ancient because they have a Slavic origin. In addition, Domagoj and Borna were the names of a couple of the oldest Croatian rulers, indicating their presence since the 7th century.

4. What Croatian name means love?

David (beloved), Marija (beloved), Ljubo (peace, love), Ljuba (love), and Mojca (the beloved one) are a few examples of Croatian names that mean similar to ‘love.’

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Official and Spoken Languages of European Countries.
    https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/european_languages.htm
  2. Background Information (Croatian).
    https://slavic.ucla.edu/languages/bcs/croatian-background-info/
  3. A Guide to Names and Naming Practices.
    https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf
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