Horná

Horná is a toponym used in Slovakia and other Slavic-language regions. It derives from a word meaning "upper" and is typically used to indicate a location that is higher in terrain, upstream, or more northern relative to a nearby settlement or feature. The name is commonly found as part of compound place names and can function as an independent village name or as a geographic descriptor within a longer locality.

Etymology and usage conventions reflect broader Slavic naming patterns. In Slovak, horný forms the basis for meanings such as upper or superior, and Horná is often contrasted with Dolná, meaning "lower." This pairing frequently appears in valleys, hillsides, or along rivers, where two settlements or parts of a municipality are distinguished by their relative elevations.

Geographic distribution and significance vary, but Horná appears as the name of several villages or municipal divisions within Slovakia. Because it is a descriptive element rather than a unique identifier, it can occur in multiple regions and may be part of longer, more specific place names. In practice, references to Horná are typically clarified by noting the associated district or region to distinguish among the different locations bearing the name.

See also: Dolná, Horný. For research or travel, disambiguation is often necessary to identify the exact Horná being referred to, given its generic meaning and occurrence in multiple places.