Declining since 1999, #1,743 for boys today.
Popularity of Jovan since 1966
Babies named Jovan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 6 |
| 1970s | 260 | 831 |
| 1980s | 639 | 2,159 |
| 1990s | 169 | 2,452 |
| 2000s | 11 | 2,378 |
| 2010s | 0 | 1,520 |
| 2020s | 0 | 638 |
Meaning & origin
Jovan is a South Slavic name that entered U.S. records in 1966 and saw its peak popularity in 1998. Since 1999 its usage has been declining, but it remains a distinctive choice for families with Balkan heritage. In 2025 the name ranked 1743, with roughly 1 in 18,366 baby boys receiving it. The highest concentrations of Jovans are in Arizona, Michigan, and Texas, states with notable Serbian and Macedonian communities.
Jovan derives from the South Slavic element 'mlad' meaning 'young' or 'youthful.' It is closely related to the Serbian and Macedonian name Mladen and is a common given name in Serbia, Bosnia, and other Balkan countries. The name appeared in U.S. records starting in the mid-1960s, reflecting immigrant communities.
Where Jovan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jovan” around the world
Where Jovan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jove, Jovi
Sibling names for Jovan
Names that share Jovan's style, for a brother or sister.
