Lijepa

Lijepa is the feminine form of the Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian adjective lijep, meaning “beautiful.” It is used to modify feminine nouns, as in lijepa djevojka (“beautiful girl”). In some contexts it can be used as a given name or nickname, although it is not a common official given name in most countries.

Etymology: Lijepa derives from Proto-Slavic roots meaning “pleasing” or “beautiful,” with cognates across Slavic languages. The masculine form is lijep and the neuter lijepo.

In culture: As a poetic or descriptive epithet, lijepa appears in literature and folk songs. It also occurs in modern usage as a personal name or stage name on occasion. The phrase Lijepa naša domovino, the opening line of the Croatian national anthem, illustrates its role as a general term of beauty and national sentiment.

There are no widely recognized individuals whose legal name is Lijepa; when used as a name, it is typically a nickname or artistic name rather than a formal given name.