Živorad (Serbian Cyrillic: Живорад) is a Serbian masculine given name of Slavic origin. It is derived from the Slavic elements živ meaning "alive, living" and rad meaning "happy, willing" or "care". Combined, the name can be interpreted as "one who is joyfully alive" or "living with eager will".
The name belongs to a common Slavic naming tradition where two stems are compounded to form a meaningful name, often reflecting desired virtues or characteristics. Related names include Živko, a diminutive form, and Radomir, which shares the rad root meaning "to care" or "to be glad." Nicknames for Živorad include Živko and Žika.
Notable Bearers
- Živorad Janković (1924–1990), Bosnian architect
- Živorad Jelić (born 1942), Serbian rock musician
- Živorad Jevtić (1943–2000), Serbian footballer
- Živorad Jovanović (1914–1942), Yugoslav partisan
- Živorad Kovačević (1930–2011), Serbian diplomat and politician
- Živorad Milosavljević (born 1956), Serbian politician
- Živorad Mišić (born 1986), Serbian footballer
- Živorad Mitrović (1921–2005), Serbian film director and screenwriter
- Živorad Nastasijević (1893–1966), Serbian painter
- Živorad Nešić (born 1943), Serbian politician
- Živorad Petrović (1939–2000), Serbian engineer and business executive
- Živorad Smiljanić (1942–2018), Serbian politician
Cultural Context
Živorad is primarily used in Serbia and among Serbian diaspora communities. While not as common today, it reflects a traditional naming pattern found in many Slavic cultures, where two meaningful elements are combined to create a name with a positive virtue or aspiration.
Quick Facts
- Meaning: "living with joyful will" or "alive and eager"
- Origin: Slavic (Serbian)
- Type: Compound given name
- Usage Regions: Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, diaspora
Sources: Wikipedia — Živorad