dragan

Dragan is a masculine given name in South Slavic languages. It derives from the Slavic root drag- meaning “dear,” “beloved,” or “precious,” and is related to other names such as Dragomir, Dragoslav, and Dragutin. In Cyrillic alphabets it is written as Драган. The name is generally considered a stand-alone form, though it is connected to a family of names built from the same root, and it has a common feminine form, Dragana.

Usage and variants commonly appear across Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. It is used as a traditional given name and appears in various historical and contemporary Balkan contexts. Diminutives and nicknames often include Drago, Draža, or Draganči, depending on local language and personal preference. The name is recognized in many Slavic-speaking communities and remains in regular use.

Notable bearers with the name include individuals from sports, arts, and public life in the Balkan region. Examples include Dragan Džajić, a prominent Serbian football figure, and Dragan Stojković, another well-known Serbian footballer and coach. The name’s cultural presence reflects its roots in affection and membership within Slavic naming traditions.