Original versions of anglicised Croatian names  

(Photo credit: Marko Lukunic/PIXSELL)

By Iva Ralica

Many names and surnames in Croatia are derived from old Slavic words, with no equivalent in other languages outside its circle.

Still, some do have their English form, such as the surname Kovač (Smith) or the name Ivan (John).

Others, like Horvat – the older version of the word Hrvat, meaning a Croat – or Babić -derived from a word meaning old woman – or names like Mira – meaning peace – or Dobra – meaning good – don’t seem to have the right translation into English.

A lot of names also took on new forms as Croatians spread around the world and anglicised their names, such as Tomislav to Tom or Marko to Mark.

Here are just some names and what their anglicised equivalents would be:

First names: 
Andrej – Andrew
Ana, Anica – Anna
Ante, Antonio, Antun – Anthony
Berislav – Barry
Blanka – Blanche
Blaž – Blaise
Baldo – Bob
Đuro (Juraj) – George
Eva – Eve
Fran, Franjo – Francis, Frank
Grgur – Gregory
Hrvoje – Harry
Ivan – John
Ivanka – Daisy
Ilija – Elijah
Jadran – Adrian
Jakov – Jacob, Jack
Janja – Agnes
Janko – Evan, Shane, Sean, Hank
Jasen – Jason
Jelena – Helen, Elaine
Jozo, Joze, Josip – Joseph, Joe
Juraj, Jure – George
Karlo – Charles or Carl
Katja, Kata – Kate, Kathleen
Luka – Luke
Lucija, Luči – Lucy
Matija, Matej, Mate – Matthias or Matthew
Marko – Mark
Miljenko – Mike, Michael
Nikola – Nicholas or Nick
Pavao, Paval – Paul
Pero – Peter
Ruža – Rose
Šimun, Šime – Simon
Stjepan, Stipe – Stephen or Steve
Slavko – Gary
Tomislav – Tom
Vinko, Vice – Vincent

Surnames:
Adamić, Adamović – Adams, Adamson, Eads, Eason, Edison, Adcock, Atkins, Atkinson
Filipović – Phillips, Phelps
Ilić – Ellis, Ellison, Elliston, Eliot, Elliot, Elliott
Ivanović – Johnson
Janković – Hanson, Janson, Johnson, Jones, Hancock
Jurić – Georgeson
Kovač – Smith (Blacksmith)
Matić – Mathewson
Pavlović – Paulson
Petrović – Pearce, Pearson, Peters, Peterson, Pierce, Pierson, Park, Perkins
Stjepanić – Stevenson, Stephenson