Anđelko is a South Slavic masculine given name used in Croatian and Serbian, meaning "little angel" or simply "angel." It is a derivative of Anđelo, which itself comes from the medieval Latin name Angelus, derived from the Greek word ἄγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger." The name Angel has deep religious connotations, being associated with heavenly beings in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The suffix -ko is a common Slavic diminutive, giving the name an affectionate nuance. Anđelko thus embodies both spiritual significance and endearment.EtymologyThe root of Anđelko is the Latin Angelus, which entered Slavic languages through Christianization. In Old Church Slavonic, the word angělŭ (ангелъ) was borrowed from Greek. The South Slavic forms evolved with regional phonetic shifts: Serbian and Croatian adopted the forms Anđelo (masculine) and Anđela (feminine), with diminutive derivatives like Anđelka and Anđelko. The name is also related to variants across Europe, such as Aingeru (Basque), Àngel (Catalan), and Ange (French). In Germanic languages, Engel is a cognate.Notable BearersAnđelko Aleksić (1876–1904), Macedonian Serb Chetnik commander (voivode) – a historical figure in the Macedonian struggle.Anđelko Ćuk (born 1983), Croatian volleyball player.Anđelko Đuričić (born 1980), Serbian professional footballer.Anđelko Habazin (1924–1978), Croatian philosopher and academic.Anđelko Jovanović (born 1999), Montenegrin footballer.Anđelko Klobučar (1931–2016), Croatian composer, organist, and music pedagogue.Anđelko Krstić (1871–1952), Serb writer and patriot.Anđelko Kvesić (born 1969), Bosnian football midfielder.Anđelko Marušić (1911–1981), Yugoslav professional footballer.Anđelko Milardović (born 1956), Croatian political scientist.Anđelko Rističević (born 1985), Serbian long-distance runner.Anđelko Runjić (1938–2015), Croatian politician, economist, and diplomat.Anđelko Savić (born 1993), Swiss professional footballer of Serbian descent.These bearers span military history, sports, academia, and arts, reflecting the name's regional prevalence.Cultural SignificanceIn South Slavic naming traditions, names derived from religious concepts are common, and Anđelko is part of a wider system of angelic names that include Anđela for females and Anđelka as a variant. The name is particularly frequent in Croatia and Serbia, but also appears in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The diminutive suffix -ko is characteristic of affectionate forms in Croatian and Serbian (e.g., Dragan > Dragomir ? or here simply Anđelko from Anđel(l)o).Key FactsMeaning: Diminutive of Angel; "little angel"Origin: Croatian and Serbian, from Latin Angelus (Greek angelos, "messenger")Type: Masculine given nameUsage Regions: Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina