Darko
(source: State Statistical Office, 2025)
6,825
6,825 people in North Macedonia carry this name
Meaning
Darko is a Slavic male name derived from the root dar, meaning “gift” or “present.” In the provided data, the name may be understood as “a gift from God” or “one who is a gift from heaven.” A figurative meaning is also mentioned: “selfless in good deeds” or “to be gifted in life.”
By its meaning, Darko is connected with the idea of something precious, received as a blessing or a gift. The provided data states that its meaning is identical to the Latin name Donat, and that by meaning it also corresponds to the Greek name Dorotheos. The name is also explained as originally being a diminutive of names containing the Slavic element dar.
Besides the Slavic interpretation, the provided sources also give another explanation: that the name may be derived from the Greek Dareios, originally connected with the Persian dara, meaning “to have” or “to possess.” This is a different interpretation from the Slavic root dar, so the two explanations should be understood as separate possible etymologies.