What does Bogdan mean?
Bogdan means “given by God” in the Slavic languages.
What does Dragan mean?
Dragan comes from the Slavic drag, “precious” or “dear.”
Bogdan vs Dragan
Which is more popular?
Bogdan is more popular than Dragan today: about 34 US babies were given the name Bogdan in 2025, compared with 0 named Dragan.
| Bogdan | Dragan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Given by God | Precious, dear |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOG-dahn | DRAH-gahn |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1954 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 2024 (37) | 2012 (12) |
| In 2025 | 34 | 0 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bogdan
Dragan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bogdan | Dragan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 189 | 20 |
| 2010s | 249 | 50 |
| 2000s | 178 | 73 |
| 1990s | 89 | 11 |
| 1980s | 10 | 39 |
| 1970s | 17 | 48 |
| 1960s | 37 | 34 |
| 1950s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bogdan or Dragan more popular?
Bogdan is more popular than Dragan today: about 34 US babies were given the name Bogdan in 2025, compared with 0 named Dragan.
What is the difference between Bogdan and Dragan?
Bogdan means Given by God (Slavic origin), while Dragan means Precious, dear (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Bogdan or Dragan?
In US records, Bogdan first appears in 1954 and Dragan in 1961, so Bogdan has the longer recorded history.