87 Culturally Rich Serbian Baby Names

Serbian baby names reflect a diverse cultural heritage, drawing from Slavic, Christian, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew influences. They blend historical significance with religious symbolism, creating names that hold deep meaning within Serbian traditions. Typically, these names follow Western conventions, where the surname comes after the given name. However, an Eastern naming order may be used in formal settings, placing the surname in capital letters before the first name. For instance, a person would write their name as Zoran Petrović, as per Western conventions, but may mention their name as PETROVIĆ Zoran in any formal Serbian documents.

Serbian first names mostly come from Slavic roots, such as Tomislav, Stevan, Ruza, Natalija, Milorad, Ljudmila, Dragoslav, and Branimir. Some names, such as Nikola and Ana, are chosen because they reflect Christian beliefs and they often come from Hebrew. There are also names from Greek origins, such as Aleksandar and Teodora, which are popular among Serbian Christians. Names of Latin origins, such as Marko and Marina, and some from Germanic roots, like Igor and Oliver, have also been common in Serbia throughout history. These names show the diverse influences on Serbian culture and traditions.

Throughout Serbian history, individuals have been known not only by their given names and surnames but also by distinctive sobriquets. These epithets, such as Zmaj meaning 'the dragon' for poet Jovan Jovanović Zmaj or Alas meaning 'river fisherman' for mathematician Mihailo Petrović Alas, are not just titles, but windows into their talents, personalities, or familial backgrounds. They add a layer of personal significance to the already rich tradition of Serbian names. We have compiled a list of Serbian baby boy and girl names with meanings below.

NameGenderMeaning
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Rosa
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rose; Dew
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Milena
Baby Girl Sign Girl Gracious; Dear
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Simeon
Baby Boy Sign Boy Obedient; Listening; Little hyena
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Bogdan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Given by God; A Godsent person
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Teodor
Baby Boy Sign Boy A gift of god
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Sila
Baby Girl Sign Girl A girl who is full of strength and power
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Bodin
Baby Boy Sign Boy He who defends life
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Novak
Baby Boy Sign Boy Newcomer to the family; Fresh family member
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Milos
Baby Boy Sign Boy A person full of grace; The dearest of all
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Teodora
Baby Girl Sign Girl God's gift
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Matea
Baby Girl Sign Girl Gift of God
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Tomislav
Baby Boy Sign Boy Torture and glory
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Stevan
Baby Boy Sign Boy An individual who is crowned
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Topper
Baby Boy Sign Boy Habitational name for one who is from Topper; Occupational name for one who stokes coal in steamer
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Sofija
Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman full of wisdom
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Dejan
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who imparts knowledge; God
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Stanislav
Baby Boy Sign Boy He who is destined to become glorious and famous
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Rajko
Baby Boy Sign Boy Kingly or regal
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Bojan
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who fights in battles
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Jakov
Baby Boy Sign Boy May God watch over you
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Natalija
Baby Girl Sign Girl Born on Christmas day
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Mateja
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's Gift
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Nemanja
Baby Boy Sign Boy Having no ownership or control
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Marija
Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman of the sea of sorrows
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Tijana
Baby Girl Sign Girl The silent; Stands for the peace
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Marica
Baby Girl Sign Girl A child who was wished for
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Dajana
Baby Girl Sign Girl Creation of God
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Tija
Baby Girl Sign Girl The joy and happiness from god
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Stana
Baby Girl Sign Girl The woman who always remains standing
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Aco
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who helps or defends mankind
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Bibo
Baby Boy Sign Boy A peacelover; A short form of Ljubo
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Bica
Baby Girl Sign Girl A little love; A short form of Ljubica
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Bogdana
Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman who is god-given
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Bojana
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who is a fighter in the battles
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Branimir
Baby Boy Sign Boy World protection; Harmony; Peace
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Branislav
Baby Boy Sign Boy Protection of glory
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Branka
Baby Girl Sign Girl Protection of glory
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Bratislav
Baby Boy Sign Boy Glory of the brother
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Budimir
Baby Boy Sign Boy To make peace
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Bunda
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex One with a fur coat
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Bura
Baby Girl Sign Girl Woman like a sea storm
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Dragana
Baby Girl Sign Girl A precious person who is mature and filled with empathy
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Dragos
Baby Boy Sign Boy Precious; True-natured being
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Dragoslav
Baby Boy Sign Boy Precious; Gift from God; Glorious
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Draisen
Baby Boy Sign Boy Precious and mature person
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Dunja
Baby Girl Sign Girl Quince
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Emilja
Baby Girl Sign Girl To match; Surpass a person or a rival by imitation mostly
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Govran
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is very restless
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Grana
Baby Girl Sign Girl One with a clever mind
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Ja
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Me
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Jagoda
Baby Girl Sign Girl A girl sweet as a strawberry
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Ksenija
Baby Girl Sign Girl Ksenija means hospotality, a stranger or a guest
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Lidija
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who is from an ancient Kingdom of Lydia
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Ljudmila
Baby Girl Sign Girl A person who is favoured by the people
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Marijana
Baby Girl Sign Girl A graceful woman in the sea of bitterness
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Mariora
Baby Girl Sign Girl A dame from the sea of heartache
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Milorad
Baby Boy Sign Boy A graceful joy or care
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Milosz
Baby Boy Sign Boy A dear one; Pleasant one
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Nedeljka
Baby Girl Sign Girl The one was born on Sunday
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Nedeljko
Baby Boy Sign Boy Resembles one of the days; Sunday
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Nirvaira
Baby Boy Sign Boy The new comer to the family; Fresh family member
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Pushka
Baby Boy Sign Boy A gun or a cannon; One who is a barrel of a rifled gun; helpful
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Reija
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who has wings
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Rumen
Baby Boy Sign Boy A boy whose cheeks are ruddy and red
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Ruza
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who is a beautiful rose
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Silvija
Baby Girl Sign Girl One of the woods
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Simeona
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who hears; She who listens
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Simo
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who hears and listens
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Simonida
Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman who is heard by God
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Slaven
Baby Boy Sign Boy From Serbian; Glory
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Slavica
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who brings glory
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Slavka
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who has achieved greatness
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Slobodan
Baby Boy Sign Boy A man who is free
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Stanimir
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who became peaceful and glorious
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Stanislava
Baby Girl Sign Girl A woman who achieves fame
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Stjepan
Baby Boy Sign Boy A person who has a crown
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Stojan
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who stands
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Stojanka
Baby Girl Sign Girl She who stands firmly on the ground
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Tambura
Baby Girl Sign Girl A musical instrument like a guitar
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Tihana
Baby Girl Sign Girl A quiet person; A saint
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Titel
Baby Girl Sign Girl Land of strength; A place in Serbia
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Todor
Baby Boy Sign Boy A beautiful and pleasant gift from God
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Vedran
Baby Boy Sign Boy Clear; Cheerful
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Jerina
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Peaceful; Calm
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Micko
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Who is like God
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Ranko
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Early awakening; Morning joy
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Uros
Baby Boy Sign Boy Strong; Brave; Powerful

Serbian baby names showcase a rich tapestry of cultural influences, blending names of Slavic roots with those of other origins, such as Greek and Hebrew. These names reflect a heritage where tradition meets creativity, with each name often carrying historical significance. Serbian naming practices highlight the country's vibrant cultural mosaic, from the diverse origins of first names to the unique sobriquets of notable figures. These names shape identities and serve as lasting connections to Serbian traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some of the most popular names in Serbia?

According to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Jelena is the most common feminine name, followed by Milica, and Dragan is the most common masculine name, followed by Aleksander in Serbia (1).

2. Is Vladimir a Serbian name?

Vladimir is a common masculine name of Slavic origin, meaning ‘of great power.’ It is widely used across Slavic nations, including Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Macedonia.

3. What is the Serbian form of the name Elizabeth?

The Serbian form of Elizabeth is Jelisaveta, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning ‘God is my oath.’

4. Why do most Serbian surnames end with ‘vic’?

Serbian surnames often end with ‘vic’ due to traditional naming conventions that reflect familial lineage. The suffix ‘vić’ is a diminutive, meaning ‘son of’ or ‘descendant of’ in the Slavic languages. It indicates a patronymic origin, connecting the person to their father's name. For example, the surname Petrovic means ‘son of Petar.’

References

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  1. The most frequent names and surnames.
    https://www.stat.gov.rs/en-us/vesti/20240308-najcescaimenaiprezimena/
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