Željka

Željka is a feminine given name predominantly used in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. It is the feminine form of the South Slavic name Željko, which derives from the South Slavic word želja meaning "desire," ultimately from the Old Slavic element želěti (to desire).

Notable Bearers

Several notable individuals bear the name Željka. Željka Antunović (born 1955) is a Croatian centre-left politician who served as Minister of Defense. Željka Čižmešija is a Croatian retired figure skater. In sports, Željka Nikolić (born 1991) is a Serbian handballer, and Željka Radanović (born 1989) is a Montenegrin footballer.

Cultural Significance

The name reflects the Slavic tradition of creating names from abstract concepts, in this case "desire." It is commonly used in the Balkans, particularly among Croatian, Serbian, and Slovene communities.

Related Names

A related Hungarian form is Zselyke, which shares the same root meaning.

• Meaning: Desire
• Origin: South Slavic
• Type: Feminine
• Usage: Croatian, Serbian, Slovene