Croatian female names draw on South Slavic forms alongside long-standing Catholic calendar influence and international (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) sources. Feminine forms typically end in -a, and many are derived as feminine counterparts of male names (for example, Josipa from Josip, Matea from Matej). Productive diminutive suffixes -ica and -ka are common in women’s names and nicknames that have become established as given names (Janica, Ankica, Stefica). Suffixes such as -ana also appear (Zvjezdana).

Current usage favors short, two-syllable forms and internationally familiar variants, while traditional Slavic choices remain present. Examples include Maja, Nela, Danica, Janica, Josipa, Matea, Renata, Ankica, Zvjezdana, and Orsolija.