Nenad

Nenad has one of the most tender origin stories in Serbian naming. It comes from ne nadan, the unexpected one, traditionally given to a child who arrived as a surprise, late or unhoped-for. The name becomes a small family legend carried forward in ordinary daily use, two brisk syllables with a hush at the beginning and a kick at the end. Nenad Bjelica the footballer and Nenad Canak the politician are among the contemporary carriers. It reads warm and unfussy in Serbian, more neighbor than noble. The meaning softens the strong consonants, so Nenad sounds masculine and grateful at the same time.