naum

Naum is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical prophet Nahum, meaning "comfort" or "consolation." The name is used in various Eastern European and Mediterranean communities and has several transliterations, including Naum, Nahum, and Naoum. In Slavic languages it is typically written as Наум.

Saint Naum of Ohrid (c. 830–910) is the most prominent historical bearer. A disciple of Cyril and Methodius, he helped establish the Ohrid Literary School and co-founded the Monastery of Saint Naum on the southern shore of Lake Ohrid in present-day North Macedonia. Naum played a key role in the spread of literacy and Christian scholarship among the South Slavic peoples during the early medieval period.

Today the name is found among Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and other Slavic-speaking populations, and is occasionally used in Greek and Romanian communities with corresponding spellings. It is typically given to boys and does not carry a specific occupational meaning. Variants reflect regional transliteration conventions rather than divergent origins.

In modern times, Naum is used as a given name in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, and other Slavic-speaking communities, as well as among Greek-speaking Christians, often spelled Naoum in Greek contexts. The name remains associated with historical and religious traditions in Eastern Europe and the Orthodox world.