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