254 Bosnian Baby Names Reflecting History & Heritage

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.

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Name		Gender	Meaning
Omar		Boy	Flourishing; Long-lived; Wealthy; Famous; Eloquent; Gifted
Fatima		Girl	One who abstains
Hamza		Boy	Strong; Steadfast
Ahmed		Boy	Highly praised; Most commendable
Emir		Boy	Prince; Commander; Immortal
Mustafa		Boy	The chosen one; Appointed; Preferred
Naila		Girl	Attainer; Successful one
Mahir		Boy	Skilled; Expert; Talented
Adnan		Boy	Settler
Faris		Boy	Rider; Horseman; Knight
Tahir		Boy	Virtuous; Pure; Chaste
Armin		Boy	Soldier; Protector; Guardian; Universal; Whole
Haris		Boy	Grace; Kindness; Plowman; Cultivator
Isa		Girl	Ice; Jesus; Yahweh is salvation; My God is an oath
Harun		Boy	Lofty; Exalted
Azra		Girl	Virgin; Maiden
Tarik		Boy	Visitor; Knocker at the door; Strike
Adem		Boy	Man; To be red; Made from
Edin		Boy	Delight; Place of pleasure; Religion; Fire; Rich friend
Humza		Boy	Steadfast; Strong
Emin		Boy	Truthful; Loyal; One who believes in God
Maher		Boy	Skilled; Talented
Medina		Girl	A city of the Prophet
Amer		Boy	Ruler; Prince; Emir; Commander
Semira		Girl	Companion in evening talk; Highest heaven;
Emina		Girl	Truthful; Loyal; One who believes in God; Fearless
Emira		Girl	Prince; Commander; Treetop
Salih		Boy	Virtuous
Aldin		Boy	Old friend; Excellence of religion
Esma		Girl	Supreme; Esteemed; Loved
Sinan		Boy	Spearhead; Arrowhead
Ajla		Girl	Halo; Circle of light; Moonlight; Holy; Blessed
Zlatan		Boy	Gold
Miraal		Girl	Deer; Angel of heaven
Amela		Girl	Hope; Aspiration
Zaim		Boy	Leader; Chief; General
Mirza		Boy	A nobleman with a high rank; A respected person; Prince; Commander
Murat		Boy	A wish come true; Desire
Daris		Boy	Very important person; Learning
Davud		Boy	A variant of David; Beloved
Admir		Boy	Admire; Commander; Prince
Besim		Boy	A happy soul
Jasin		Unisex	Healer; A chapter of the Quran
Zana		Girl	Yahweh is gracious; Woman; Scholar; Hundred; Bullfinch; Lily; Rose; Fairy
Azrah		Girl	Virgin; Maiden; Support; Help; Protection
Ajdin		Boy	He who is bright; Clear
Alem		Boy	Scholar; Noble protection; Little rock
Adana		Girl	Eldest daughter; Man
Ajna		Girl	Mirror; Command; Authority; To give orders; Third-eye chakra
Kaplan		Boy	Tiger; Charity priest
Mak		Boy	Poppy flower
Alija		Boy	Lofty; Sublime; To be high
Almin		Unisex	Trustworthy
Enver		Boy	Bright; Luminous
Jasmina		Girl	Jasmine flower
Ardian		Boy	One belonging to the Illyrian tribe; Land; Earth
Elvedin		Boy	Benevolence of faith; Gift
Hazem		Boy	Firm; Steadfast; Resolute; Stern
Sadik		Boy	Friend; Sincere; Loyal
Senaida		Girl	Zeus; Shine; Sky; Support
Ilma		Girl	Knowledge; Air
Zerina		Unisex	Golden
Adis		Unisex	Gentle; New
Faruk		Boy	One who can tell right from wrong
Ezan		Girl	Call to worship
Emrah		Boy	Friend; Brother
Husein		Boy	Handsome; Good; Beautiful
Almedina		Girl	One who is devoted to faith; One who is civilized
Nidal		Boy	Struggle
Nedim		Boy	Drinking companion; Confidant; Friend
Senada		Girl	Support
Suad		Girl	Happiness; Luck
Adnaan		Boy	Heaven; Paradise; Settler
Anes		Unisex	Friendly; Affable; Pure; Chaste
Abdulah		Boy	Servant of Allah
Asja		Girl	Distressed; Grieved
Rijad		Boy	Desert gardens
Ekrem		Boy	He who is most noble or most respected
Enes		Boy	Friendly
Fenan		Unisex	A desire for knowledge and learning; Bishop
Ermin		Boy	Universal; Army man
Elmir		Boy	Noble; Famous; Commander; Prince
Enis		Boy	One who is friendly
Halil		Boy	Intimate friend; Bosom friend
Hazim		Boy	Firm; Steadfast; Resolute; Stern
Ismet		Boy	Safeguarding
Halid		Boy	Eternal; Immortal; To last forever
Jusuf		Boy	God increases in strength, power
Melida		Girl	Honey
Sibi		Unisex	Fame of the Serbs
Mehmed		Boy	Praised; Commendable
Aldina		Girl	Old; Noble; Excellence of religion
Almina		Girl	Nourishing; Soul; Will helmet; Trustworthy
Sabit		Boy	Firmly in place; Unshakeable; Constant; Stable
Safan		Boy	Brave; Bold; Courageous; Ship-builder; Serenity; Purity
Enisa		Girl	Friend; Companion
Vedad		Boy	Affection or love
Senad		Boy	Support
Nermin		Unisex	Soft; Gentle
Meliha		Girl	A beautiful woman; Sweet

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.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team