Jovica

Jovica is a South Slavic masculine given name, a diminutive form of Jovan, the Serbian and Macedonian equivalent of John. Jovan derives from the Latin Iohannes, which traces back through Greek Iōannēs to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. The name has been common throughout the Balkans owing to the widespread veneration of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Apostle in Orthodox Christian tradition. Related forms include Jovan, Jovo, and the broader European cognates Ivan, Giovanni, and Johannes.