UK boy's name
Goran
From Slavic origin, meaning "highlander" or "mountain dweller".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Goran is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Goran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 6 births.
This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1999 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Goran. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Goran ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 6 boys were registered as Goran.
- • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Goran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
6 births
Estimated living
37
2026
Meaning
What does Goran mean?
The name Goran is of Slavic origin, derived from the word "gora" which means "mountain" or "hill" in several Slavic languages. It is a masculine name that has been used predominantly in countries with Slavic cultural and linguistic influences, such as Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and parts of Russia.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Goran dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was popular among the Slavic populations of the Balkan region. It is believed that the name was initially given to children born or living in mountainous areas, reflecting the geographic and cultural significance of mountains in these regions.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Goran was Goran Visoki, a Serbian nobleman and military commander who lived in the 14th century. He played a significant role in the Battle of Velbazhd in 1330, where Serbian forces defeated the Byzantine army.
Another historical figure bearing the name Goran was Goran Lika, a Croatian nobleman and military leader from the 15th century. He was known for his bravery and leadership during the Croatian-Ottoman wars, defending the territory of Lika against Ottoman invasions.
In the 16th century, Goran Martinović, a Serbian writer and philosopher, gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Goran Kovačić was a renowned Croatian writer and playwright. His works, such as "U registraturi" (In the Registry Office) and "Among the Office Clerks," provided insightful social commentary on the bureaucratic systems of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In the 20th century, Goran Ivanišević, a Croatian professional tennis player, achieved international fame by winning the prestigious Wimbledon Championships in 2001. His remarkable career and victory at Wimbledon brought the name Goran into the global spotlight.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Goran, reflecting its longstanding presence and cultural significance in various Slavic regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Goran over time
The chart below shows babies named Goran registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Goran, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Goran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Goran was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4745 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3557 | 25 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Goran
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Goran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Goran in the UK right now?
In 2021, Goran was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Goran most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 6 babies registered as Goran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Goran?
From Slavic origin, meaning "highlander" or "mountain dweller".
How many people are called Goran in the UK?
A total of 37 babies have been registered as Goran across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.