Bosnian Names

Bosnian names are often seen as "different" and "interesting" by Western culture. Do any of these names pique your interest?
  1. Adam
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "son of the red earth"
    • Description:

      Adam -- a primal Old Testament name -- was revived as a 1960s cowboy name. Adam is not as popular as it once was and feels ready for a respite, replaced by newer A names like Aidan/Aiden, Avery and Axel. Its most prominent current bearers include Adams Sandler, Levine, Brody and Driver -- who plays a character named Adam on Girls.
  2. Adela
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      A vibrant variation of Adele, with a bit of extra flair from that "-a" ending. It could join the army of popular A girls' names, especially with its tie to the success of singer Adele.
  3. Adelina
    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Slavic variation of Adeline
    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"
    • Description:

      Adelina is back in the Top 1000 after an absence of nearly a century, thanks to the meteoric rise of her sister name Adeline -- along with Adelaide, Adele, and Ada.
  4. Adelisa
    • Origin:

      Hybrid of Adele and Lisa
    • Description:

      A whole raft of names that start with Adel are coming back into fashion, from Adele to Adelaide to Adeline to Adelina, and so Adelisa -- a hybrid of the Adel sound and the isa suffix -- was given to a handful of girls last year. While still a quiet variation, we predict we'll see more of Adelisa in the coming years, and as hybrid names go, it's quite charming.
  5. Adil
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "just, fair"
    • Description:

      Also spelled Adel, this name of Arabic origin is also used in Urdu, Turkish, and Persian. It comes from the Arabic root adala meaning "to act justly", linking it to honesty and fairness — aspirational qualities for anyone to possess. It is popular in the Arabic speaking world, and is familiar in the UK and France.
  6. Adina
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "slender, delicate"
    • Description:

      Name of an Old Testament soldier that's been also used as a girls' name in modern Israel. An alternate spelling is Adinah. Some mistake Adina and Adinah to be the root of Dinah, but the Biblical name Dinah is borne by a different figure and has a different meaning. You can consider the modern short forms Dena and Dina as stemming from either Adina or Dinah.
  7. Adna
    • Aida
      • Origin:

        Arabic; Italian
      • Meaning:

        "returning visitor; happy"
      • Description:

        Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
    • Aladdin
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "height of religion; excellent in faith"
      • Description:

        We can't pretend that this name is not indelibly linked to the Disney's eponymous character, at least in the USA; but it's not a negative connotation and may appeal to you. Bosnian variation Aldin may be more wearable in the US, though.
    • Ali
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "supreme, exalted"
      • Description:

        This is one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah, deemed by Muhammad to be a recommended name for a male child. In this country, it's been primarily associated with boxing immortal Muhammad Ali, known as "the greatest." But Ali is also one of the most popular unisex names for both boys and girls.
    • Alia
      • Origin:

        Arabic feminine form of Ali
      • Meaning:

        "supreme, exalted"
      • Description:

        Alia is the most classic and feminine form of Ali, one of the 99 attributes of Allah within Islam. Meaning "supreme, exalted, high, sublime", it is pretty, powerful and spirited.
    • Alida
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Adelaide
      • Description:

        Alida had a brief flurry of popularity a hundred years ago but is rarely used today. But given the rise of so many names related to Adelaide and Adeline, Alida might be rediscovered.
    • Alisa
      • Origin:

        Variation of Alice, or Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "noble; great happiness"
      • Description:

        Alisa is variation of Alice with a touch of international flair. Used in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Estonia and Poland, it is also familiar in English speaking countries too. As a Hebrew name, Alisa has a bright, cheerful meaning, that adds another layer to the name.
    • Alma
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "nurturing, soul"
      • Description:

        Alma is a somewhat solemn, soulful name that had a burst of popularity a century ago, then faded into the flowered wallpaper, and is now finding its footing once more.
    • Amin
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "faithful, trustworthy"
      • Description:

        Amin is a simple but strong name with a solid meaning. It was borne by the sixth Abbasid caliph, a ruler of the Abbasid Muslim Empire in the 9th century, a descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
    • Amina
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "trustworthy, faithful; feel safe"
      • Description:

        Light and beautiful, but equally solid and versatile, Amina is a name of Arabic origin that is used internationally. Popular in Russia, the UK, Azerbijan, Belgium and Sweden, the name has also climbed the US charts in recent years and is now in the Top 400.
    • Amir
      • Origin:

        Arabic or Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "prince, ruler; treetop"
      • Description:

        Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and entered the Top 100 for the first time in 2023.
    • Anisa
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "good-natured"
      • Description:

        Phonetic spelling of the Muslim Aanisah, chosen by singer Macy Gray for one of her daughters.
    • Armin
      • Origin:

        Form of Herman or Armen
      • Meaning:

        "soldier or wish, hope"
      • Description:

        Possibly related to the Ermin- names (which gave us Emma and her variants) or to Herman OR to the Persian/Kazakh/Armenian names Arman or Armen, this is an unusual choice which fits current trends.
    • Asma
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "supreme"
      • Description:

        Asma is an important name in the Muslim religion. Asma was a niece of Muhammad whose refusal to betray her uncle and father helped them escape to Mecca. Downside in English-speaking countries is that Asma sounds like asthma, the illness that blocks airways and makes it difficult to breathe.