499 Croatian Baby Names That You'll Love

Endow your child with the strength and courage of the Croatian lion.

Written by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd Specialty: Child development & educationExperience: 5 years

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

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Fact-checked by Nisha Bharatan, B.Tech Specialty: Kids Fun and Developmental ActivitiesExperience: 6 years

Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

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.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Mateo	Boy	God's gift
Mila	Girl	Gracious; Dear; Soldier; Miracles
Valentina	Girl	Strong; Vigourous; Healthy
Iris	Girl	Rainbow; Bringer of Joy; Irish flower; Colored part of the eye
Luka	Boy	From Lucania; Light
Leon	Boy	Lion
Vera	Girl	Faith; Summer; Valor; Foreign
Ana	Girl	Favor; Grace; Merciful
Niko	Boy	Victory of the people
Nina	Girl	Fire; Fish; Ancient city of Nineveh; Little girl; God is gracious; Strong

Mario	Boy	Warlike; Mars; Male
Lana	Girl	Small rock; Afloat
Milan	Boy	Gracious; Dear; Middle of the plain
Kate	Girl	Pure; Clear
Mira	Girl	A wonderous beauty; Peace; Sea; Ocean; Glory; Merry; Kindness; Behold
Helena	Girl	Torch; Shining light
Renata	Girl	Born again; Rebirth; Brave lion
Rosa	Girl	Rose; Dew
Dario	Boy	Possessing goodness
Karla	Girl	Strong; Womanly; Free woman; Peasant; Little and strong

Aron	Boy	Exalted; High mountain; Teaching; Singing
Milana	Girl	Favor; Gracious; Dear
Milena	Girl	Gracious; Dear
Zora	Girl	Dawn; Aurora; Hornet; Strength
Henrik	Boy	Lord of the house; Estate ruler 80
Damir	Boy	Peace giver; Steel; Iron; Conscience
Dominik	Boy	Belonging to the Lord; Our Lord
Danilo	Boy	God is a judge
Danica	Girl	Morning star; Venus
Melani	Girl	Dark; Black

Ivana	Girl	Yahweh is gracious
Uziel	Boy	My power is God
Ziva	Girl	Radiance; Light; Brilliance; Brightness; Light of God; Lively woman; Alive; Living
Nikola	Boy	Victory of the people
Bernard	Boy	Brave bear; Strong
Kristina	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Ariela	Girl	Lioness of God
Dariana	Girl	Wealthy; Possessing goodness
Anita	Girl	Grace; Favor; Mercy; Unguided
Vladimir	Girl	A great and famous ruler; Peace; World

Martina	Girl	The god of war; Mars; Dedicated to Mars; Warlike
Ines	Girl	Pure; Chaste; Holy; Lamb; Kindness; Caress; Companion
Toni	Unisex	Beautiful; Priceless; Praiseworthy; Flower
Karmen	Girl	Fruitful orchard; Garden; Song; Charm; Voice like soft music
Marin	Girl	Of the sea
Iva	Girl	God is gracious; Willow tree; Yew
Ela	Girl	My God is an oath; Hazel; Earth
Denis	Boy	Follower of Dionysius; Of Zeus;
Karolina	Girl	Free woman; Army; Freeholder; Song of joy; Strong; Beautiful
Ema	Girl	Whole; Great

Klara	Girl	Clear; Bright; Famous
Ervin	Boy	Army friend; Boar friend
Maceo	Boy	Gift of God
Marko	Boy	Mars; The god of war; Warlike; Male
Aj	Boy	The inventor; Moon; A Pharoah's name
Milania	Girl	Gracious; Dear; Middle of the plain; Dark; Black
Filip	Boy	Friend of horses
Dora	Girl	God's gift; Hand; Gift
Ivanka	Girl	God is gracious
Doris	Girl	Gift; Dorian woman

Aleksandra	Girl	Defender of mankind
Renato	Boy	Born Again; Reborn; Rebirth
Alen	Boy	Little rock; Handsome
Boris	Boy	Snow leopard; Wolf
Dino	Boy	A little sword; Brave bear; Camellia flower
Izak	Unisex	Laughter; He will laugh
Veronika	Girl	She who brings victory; True image
Alarik	Boy	Ruler of all; Noble ruler
Bogdan	Boy	Given by God
Ena	Girl	Grain; Peace; Little fire; Gazelle

Gala	Girl	Rooster; From Gaul; Calm weather
Rigo	Boy	Famous ruler; Thrush; Blackbird; Powerful king
Eduard	Boy	Rich guard
Karlo	Boy	Man with armor; Free man; Army
Lira	Girl	Balance; Scale; Weight; Lyre; Free
Kalista	Girl	The most beautiful one
Lazar	Boy	God will help
Novak	Boy	New; Novice; Newcomer; Stranger
Mirna	Girl	Peaceful; Calm; The eye
Laszlo	Boy	To rule; Glory

Miro	Boy	Peace; World; One who is peaceful
Reza	Boy	Satisfaction; Contentment; Summer; Harvest
Daiana	Girl	Divine; Goddesslike; Heavenly
Jelena	Girl	Sunray; Light; Bright; Sunlight
Irena	Girl	Peace
Rea	Girl	Flowing; Ground; Beautiful; Wise; Sound of jewels; Bow; Jasmine
Nada	Girl	Generosity; Dew; Hope
Jania	Girl	God is gracious; Soul; The burning of the world; Defending men
Igor	Boy	Warrior; Army of the Germanic god Yngvi
Jasen	Boy	One who heals; Ash tree; Serene

Kazimir	Boy	Destroyer of peace
Milos	Boy	A person full of grace; The dearest of all
Vanesa	Girl	Butterfly; Goddess Phanessa; Venus, the Goddess of love
Andrej	Boy	Masculine; Manly; Courageous; Virility
Saba	Girl	Breeze; Grandfather; Pole
Zlatan	Boy	Gold
Pera	Unisex	To hope; Stone
Vladislav	Boy	Glorious rule
Tea	Girl	Gift of god
Zlata	Girl	Golden

1 2 3 … 5 »

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.

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.’

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)

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.

Official and Spoken Languages of European Countries.
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/european_languages.htm
Background Information (Croatian).
https://slavic.ucla.edu/languages/bcs/croatian-background-info/
A Guide to Names and Naming Practices.
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.