Names

Almost all Bosnian family names end in ic (which relates to a sense of "child of," much like our Johnson). Women's first names tend to end in a and ica (pronounced EET-sa), similar to the feminine diminuitive ko in Japanese. Family names are often an indication of ethnicity. Sulemanagic, for example, is clearly a Muslim name, as are others containing such Islamic or Turkish roots as hadj or bey (or beg). Family names are passed down the male line, from father to children. Hence, someone with an Islamic-sounding root in his or her last name may be presumed to be, at least technically, a Muslim.

Some first names reflect historical events or expressions of ideology (much as an early generation of Soviet women bore first names like Tractor or Rural Electrification). Snezana, literally "Snow White," was a common woman's name after the Disney film appeared and, in the immediate postwar period of internationalism, names like Sven and Dzems (James) were given to baby boys.

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