🇷🇸 Serbia
419
Total names
211
Male names
208
Female names
Naming Rules
Relatively free name choice
Serbia allows considerable freedom in choosing baby names.
Must not be offensive
Names that are indecent, humiliating, or could cause harm are rejected by the registrar.
Can be written in Cyrillic or Latin
Serbia uses both scripts, and names can be registered in either Cyrillic or Latin alphabet.
Both Serbian and international names accepted
Traditional Serbian names and international names are both permitted.
Legal basis: Zakon o maticnim knjigama (Law on Vital Records) and Porodicni zakon (Family Law).
Authority: Maticna sluzba (Civil Registry Service)
Popular Names in Serbia
Top 15 Boy Names
1.Luka
2.Stefan
3.Nikola
4.Vuk
5.Lazar
6.Dusan
7.Mihajlo
8.Filip
9.Marko
10.Aleksa
11.Petar
12.Djordje
13.Nemanja
14.Uros
15.Mateja
Top 15 Girl Names
1.Mila
2.Sofija
3.Teodora
4.Dunja
5.Ana
6.Jovana
7.Sara
8.Milica
9.Jelena
10.Katarina
11.Nina
12.Tamara
13.Andjela
14.Nevena
15.Lena
Registering a baby name in Serbia
Deadline
30 days after birth
Processing
1-10 days
Fee
Free
Appeal to
Ministry of Public Administration
Slava — a unique Serbian Orthodox tradition — ties each family to a patron saint. First names are often chosen in harmony with the family slava, though this is cultural, not legal.
Traditional Serbian names
Serbia is unique in Europe in using both Cyrillic (official) and Latin scripts. Names are registered in Cyrillic first. Serbian Orthodox saints, medieval rulers (Stefan, Dušan, Milutin), and national heroes are strong naming traditions.
Examples of names refused or restricted
While Serbia accepts most well-known names, the Matična služba has refused or restricted the following types:
- Names that cannot be written in Cyrillic — must have a Cyrillic transliteration for the official record
- Offensive or humiliating names — refused under the Family Act
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register a baby name in Serbia?
Parents must declare the name at the Matična služba within 30 days after birth. Processing typically takes 1-10 days. The standard fee is Free.
What names are rejected in Serbia?
Refusals are rare but not unknown. Examples include: Names that cannot be written in Cyrillic (must have a Cyrillic transliteration for the official record); Offensive or humiliating names (refused under the Family Act). The core principle is that no name may harm or humiliate the child.
Can foreign parents use a non-Serbian name?
Yes. Foreign-origin names are generally accepted in Serbia, provided they can be written in the local alphabet and do not conflict with the rules above. Parents from abroad may be asked to show their own passport or the child's prior documents as supporting evidence.
What can I do if the registrar refuses my chosen name?
You can appeal the decision before the Ministry of Public Administration. In practice, submitting evidence of historical use (saints, writers, previous bearers of the name) or a minor adaptation of spelling usually resolves the case.
Check a name in Serbia
Search 419 names in our Serbia database — plus 24 more European countries.
Check a Name →Last updated: April 2026. For informational purposes only. Always consult your local Maticna sluzba for definitive answers.