Comments for the name Radovan

It was my impression that the "rad" root in this name was related to the Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian verb "da radis", meaning to work. Cf. "Radomir"

It means "radost přinášející" (´joyful´) in Czech.
Pronounced as "RAH-daw-van".
Pet forms: Radek, Radan, Dovan.

Also used in Slovenia.

Prince Radovan is character from fairy-tale "Princezna se zlatou hvězdou na čele" (1959). He was played by Josef Zíma.

Another variant: Radan, Radko, Radoje, Radowan.

Radovan Krejčíř, businessman
Radovan Lukavský, actor and pedagogue
Radovan Myslík, DJ and moderator
Radovan Karadžić, politician
Radovan Zogović, poet
Radovan Jelašić, economist

I don't like this name. Makes me think of Radovan Karadzic and the war crimes he committed.

To me, the second element easily looks like the Slavic passive voice suffix. So, the name Radovan is actually from the passive voice of the verb "radovati" meaning "to joy, gladden, make happy". The meaning of Radovan would be "one who brings joy".

It's so bitterly ironic that the root of Radovan is apparently "care." Although I am not from the Balkan Peninsula, I would imagine that this name is as unusable there as Adolf is in Europe and America. All I can think of is Radovan Karadžić and the atrocities he committed in the name of "ethnic cleansing."