Croatian sovereigns from early 9th century were wise enough to write some of their names in artifacts of stone.

That’s how we know today that male names of Višeslav, Godečaj, Trpimir, Mutimir and Branimir are in use among Croats for more than a millennium. They had been written in Latin, so they have been transliterated as Vissaselauo, Godesai, Trepimero, Montineyr and Branimiro, respectivelly.

Besides these first names of Croatian middle age rulers, there some others preserved from that time: Braslav, Petar, Pribina, Dragovit, Presila, Mislav, Komičaj, Vitolja, Njeguča, Žulj, Potjeha, Žutomisl, Nemisl. One of the first recorded female name was Maruša, wife of Trpimir and mother of Petar, also from the 9th century, and little later the queen Jelena (and her husband Mihael).

Records from 13th century reveal that Middle Age slaves had first names of Kuriša, Stojdrag, Svojak, Prekana… About that time, or even little earlier, Croatian freemen in their documents already have two names one of which closely resembles to what we know today as surname: Dragus Pirle, Mile Lapčić, Gruban Žanić, Rugonja the son of Strijan, Pribac Sudonja, Kruhonja the son of Vserad, Gradislav Mirošević Hlevljanin, Posil Ružinić…

Not all Croatian names are recorded in Latin alphabet. Since 11th century records written in a peculiar Croatian Glagolitic alphabet can be found, with names Bratohna his son Těha and grandson Juna. Another record reveals names of Radonja, Rugota, Dobroslav and Maj. One of the famous artifacts from 11-12th century, Baška table (Baščanska ploča) carries the names of Držiha, king Zvonimir, Pribinjeg, Desimir, Dabrovit and Kosmat.