Meaning & History
Ratko is a male given name of Slavic origin, primarily used in Croatian, Macedonian, and Serbian.
Etymology
Ratko originated as a diminutive of names beginning with the Slavic element radŭ meaning "happy, willing". It is specifically a diminutive form of the names Ratibor and Ratimir, as recorded in onomastic sources. Variants include Radoš in Serbian, and cognates such as Radko (Czech), Rayko (Bulgarian), and Radek (Czech).
Notable Bearers
The name Ratko is borne by several notable individuals across various fields. The most prominent is General Ratko Mladić (born 1942), Chief of Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army during the Bosnian War of 1992–1995, who was convicted of war crimes. Other notable people include Ratko Čolić (1918–1999), a Serbian footballer; Ratko Dautovski, a Macedonian percussionist; Ratko Delorko (born 1959), a German pianist, composer, and conductor; Ratko Đokić (1940–2003), a Yugoslavian-Swedish mob boss; Ratko Dostanić (born 1959), a Serbian football coach; Ratko Kacian (1917–1949), a Croatian footballer; and Ratko Perić (born 1944), a Croatian prelate who served as the bishop of Mostar-Duvno.
Cultural Significance
Ratko is a common name in the Balkans, particularly among Serbs, Croats, and Macedonians. Its root element rad is a common Slavic formative in names such as Radojer, Radmila, and Rado.
- Meaning: happy, willing (slavic element radŭ)
- Origin: Slavic
- Type: Diminutive of Ratibor/Ratimir
- Usage: Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Ratko