drazen

Drazen is a masculine given name of Slavic origin. The most common form in South Slavic languages is Dražen, with the diacritic on the z. In English-language usage, the name is often rendered without diacritics as Drazen. It is used primarily in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and among diaspora communities from the former Yugoslavia.

Etymology and usage: The root is part of a broader set of Slavic names and is generally linked to affectionate or dear connotations. The precise etymology is uncertain and varies by interpretation. The name is typically given to boys; it is rarely found as a surname.

Notable people: Dražen Petrović (1964–1993) was a Croatian professional basketball player who helped popularize European players in the NBA. He played for Cibona Zagreb, Real Madrid, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the New Jersey Nets, and was widely regarded as a pioneer for European talent in the league. He died in a car crash in 1993 in Germany and was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.