Novak (in

Serbo-Croatian Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...

and Slovene;

Cyrillic The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking countries in Southeastern Europe, Ea ...

: ) and Novák (in Hungarian,

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...

and Slovak; feminine: Nováková) is a surname and masculine given name, derived from the Slavic word for 'new' (e.g. , / ), which usually translates as 'novice', 'new man', 'newcomer'. In most languages, the stress on the first syllable. The main exceptions are Slovene, which places the stress on the last syllable and Hungarian, which stresses the "á". It is the most common surname in the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

, and

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

, and the sixth most common in

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

. It is also found in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

and

Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...

, in the '' Novac'' form, and among

Ashkenazi Jews Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium CE. They traditionally speak Yiddish, a language ...

in various forms depending on their country of origin.

Laurence Urdang Laurence Urdang (March 21, 1927 – August 21, 2008) was a lexicographer, editor and author noted for first computerising the unabridged ''Random House Dictionary of the English Language'', published in 1966. The dataset for the dictionary c ...

. ''The Last Word: The English Language: Opinions and Prejudices''. OmniData. 2008. p. 228.

Spelling

The surname is usually spelled Novak () in

and Slovene, and Novák in

, Slovak and Hungarian. The Polish counterpart is Nowak.

In specific countries

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Novák is widespread in the

and

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

. In both countries, the feminine form is Nováková. It is the most common surname in the Czech Republic.

Slovenia

Novak is the most common surname in

with more than 11,000 sharing it. There are however significant variations between regions: it is very common in central Slovenia (in the regions around

Ljubljana {{Infobox settlement , name = Ljubljana , official_name = , settlement_type = Capital city , image_skyline = {{multiple image , border = infobox , perrow = 1/2/2/1 , total_widt ...

and

Celje Celje (, , ) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, third-largest city in Slovenia. It is a regional center of the traditional Slovenian region of Styria (Slovenia), Styria and the administrative seat of the City Municipality of Celje. Th ...

), as well as in parts of southern Slovenia and eastern Slovenia (

Lower Carniola Lower Carniola ( ; ) is a traditional region in Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south an ...

Prekmurje Prekmurje (; Prekmurje Slovene: ''Prèkmürsko'' or ''Prèkmüre''; ) is a geographically, linguistically, culturally, and ethnically defined region of Slovenia, settled by Slovenes and a Hungarians in Slovenia, Hungarian minority, lying betwee ...

). It is much less common in northern and western Slovenia; in the

Goriška Goriška () is a historical region in western Slovenia on the border with Italy. It comprises the northern part of the wider traditional region of the Slovenian Littoral (''Primorska''). The name ''Goriška'' is an adjective referring to the city ...

region on the border with

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, it is quite rare.

Other countries

, Novak is the sixth most common surname. In

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

and

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

, Novak is

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

Surname bearers

Arts

* B. J. Novak (born 1979), American writer, comedian and actor *

Brett Novak Brett Novak is an American filmmaker and director, best known for his short skateboard related films; particularly his collaborations with Spanish professional skateboarder Kilian Martin. Biography Early life Novak was born in the western C ...

, American filmmaker and director *

Dávid Novák Dávid Novák () was a Hungarian Slovene student and poet. Novák was the author of the first known poem written in Prekmurje Slovene Prekmurje Slovene, also known as the Prekmurje dialect, Eastern Slovene, or Wendish (, , Prekmurje Slovene: ''p ...

, 18th-century Hungarian poet *

Evelin Novak Evelin Novak (born 1985 in Čakovec) is a Croatian soprano. Novak was born in Croatia. At the age of 12 she started her singing education, four years later she won two first prizes at international competitions in Croatia. At the age of 17 she bec ...

(born 1965), Croatian operatic soprano *

Gabi Novak Gabrijela "Gabi" Novak (; born 8 July 1936) is a Croatian pop and jazz singer. A wife of the prominent Croatian singer-songwriter Arsen Dedić, whom she married in 1973, Novak became popular in the 1960s. Biography Born in Berlin into a family ...

(born 1936), Croatian pop singer *

Gary Novak Gary Novak (born in 1969) is an American session drummer who has collaborated with numerous artists as varied as George Benson, Maynard Ferguson, Chick Corea Elektric Band, Brandon Fields, Lee Ritenour, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David ...

(born 1969), American session drummer * Jan Novák (composer) (1921–1984), Czech composer of classical music * Jan Novák (writer) (born 1953), Czech writer and playwright * Jana Nováková (actress) (1948–1968), Czech film actress and model * Jane Novak (1896–1990), American actress * Jim Novak (1955–2018), American comic book letterer * John Novak (actor) (born 1955), Venezuelan-Canadian actor * Kate Novak, American fantasy writer * Kayvan Novak (born 1978), British-Iranian actor *

Kim Novak Marilyn Pauline "Kim" Novak (born February 13, 1933) is an American retired actress and painter. Her contributions to cinema have been honored with two Golden Globe Awards, an Honorary Golden Bear, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and a s ...

(born 1933), American actress * Kristýna Badinková Nováková (born 1983), Czech actress * Laila Novak (born 1942), Swedish model and actress * Marzenka Novak (1945–2011), Argentine actress * Mel Novak (1934–2025), American actor * Mirjam Novak (born 1981), German actress and screenwriter *

Petr Novák (musician) Petr Novák (6 September 1945 – 19 August 1997) was a Czech rock musician. He is best known for his romantic Beatles inspired pop songs with his bands George and Beatovens and Flamengo in the late 1960s. Biography Born in Prague, at the age ...

(1945–1997), Czech rock musician * Slobodan Novak (1924–2016), Croatian writer *

Teréza Nováková Teréza Nováková, née Lanhausová (31 December 1853 – 13 November 1912) was a Czechs, Czech feminist author, editor, and ethnographer. Life Teréza Nováková was born in Prague in the Austrian Empire (now the Czech Republic). She married ...

(1853–1912), Czech feminist author, editor and ethnographer * Vítězslav Novák (1870–1949), Czech composer *

Vjenceslav Novak Vjenceslav Novak (11 September 1859 – 20 September 1905) was a Croatian Realist writer, dramatist, and music historian. Biography Vjenceslav Novak grew up in Senj, where he graduated from elementary school and first two grades of gymnas ...

(1859–1905), Croatian writer * Vladimír Novák (painter) (1947–2024), Czech painter

Sports

* Anatole Novak (1937–2022), French bicycle racer * Andrew Novak (born 1995), American golfer * Andriy Novak (born 1988), Ukrainian footballer * Anthony Novak (born 1994), Canadian soccer player * Brandon Novak (born 1978), American skateboarder * David Novák (born 1979), Czech footballer * Dennis Novak (born 1993), Austrian tennis player * Dezső Novák (1939–2014), Hungarian footballer * Doug Novak, American basketball coach * Džoni Novak (born 1969), Slovenian footballer * Emil Novák (born 1989), Czech snowboarder * Éva Novák-Gerard (1930–2005), Hungarian swimmer * Ferenc Novák (born 1969), Hungarian canoer * Filip Novák (ice hockey) (born 1982), Czech ice hockey player * Filip Novák (footballer) (born 1990), Czech footballer * Grigory Novak (1919–1980), Ukrainian weightlifter * Ilona Novák (1925–2019), Hungarian swimmer * Ivana Nováková (born 1965), Czech basketball player * Ján Novák (footballer) (born 1985), Slovak footballer * Jan Novák (footballer, born 1896) (1896–1968), Czech footballer * Jan Novak (footballer, born 1997), Slovenian footballer * Jan Novák (handballer) (born 1960), Czech handball player * Jan Novák (ice hockey) (born 1979), Czech ice hockey player * Jana Nováková (footballer) (born 1960), Czech footballer * Jeff Novak (born 1967), American footballer *

Jiří Novák Jiří Novák (; born 22 March 1975) is a Czech former professional tennis player. He was born in Zlín, Czechoslovakia but resides nowadays in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Career Novák turned professional in 1993 and won seven singles and 18 doubles ...

(born 1975), Czech tennis player * Joe Novak (born 1945), American football player and coach * John Novak (rugby union) (born 1947), English rugby union player * Josef Novák (born 1956), Czech footballer * Karel Novák, Czech slalom canoeist * Kevin Novak (born 1982), American soccer player *

Ladislav Novák Ladislav Novák (5 December 1931 – 21 March 2011) was a Czech football defender and later a football manager. He played 75 matches for Czechoslovakia, 71 of them as a team captain.

(1931–2011), Czech football player and manager * Martin Novák (born 1988), Czech ice hockey player * Matěj Novák (born 1989), Czech figure skater * Michael Novak (footballer) (born 1990), Austrian footballer * Mike Novak (1915–1978), American basketball player *

Nick Novak Nicholas Ryan Novak (born August 21, 1981) is an American former professional football placekicker. He played college football at Maryland and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Novak was a member of the Dallas ...

(born 1981), American football placekicker * Otto Novák (1902–1984), Czech footballer * Petr Novák (athlete) (born 1975), Czech Paralympic athlete * Petr Novák (skier) (born 1982), Czech skier * Petr Novák (ice hockey) (born 1967), Czech ice hockey coach * Petra Nováková (born 1993), Czech cross-country skier * Rudolph Novak (1887–1968), Czech-born American gymnast *

Šárka Nováková Šárka Nováková (née Makówková; born 21 February 1971 in Zlín, Czechoslovakia) is a retired Czech Republic, Czech high jumper.Soňa Nováková (born 1975), Czech beach volleyball player * Stan Novak (–2006), American basketball player, coach and scout *

Steve Novak Steven Michael Novak (born June 13, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a television analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is listed as 6'10", 225 lbs. He played college basketb ...

(born 1983), basketball player * Tommy Novak (born 1997), American ice hockey player * Vladimír Novák (skier) (1904–1986), Czech Nordic skier * Vratislava Nováková, Czechoslovak slalom canoer * Zbyněk Novák (born 1983), Czech ice hockey player

Other

Alexander Novak Alexander Valentinovich Novak (; born 23 August 1971 in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine SSR) is a Russian politician who is a current Deputy Prime Minister of Russia since November 2020. Previously, he was the Minister of Energy of Russia ...

(born 1971), Russian politician * Arne Novák (1880–1939), Czech literary historian and critic * Augustin Novák (1890–1970), Czech World War I flying ace * Barbara Novak (born 1922), American art historian * Dalma Novak, Australian electrical engineer * David Novak (born 1941), American theologian and philosopher * David C. Novak (born 1952), American businessman and philanthropist * David J. Novak (born 1961), American judge * Dragutin Novak (1892–1978), Croatian aviator * Eva Nováková (born 1938), Czech politician * Franz Novak (1913–1983), Austrian SS-Hauptsturmführer * Grga Novak (1888–1978), Croatian historian, archaeologist and geographer * John Philip Novak (born 1946), American politician * Jorge Novak (1928–2001), Argentine bishop * Joseph D. Novak (1930–2023), American educator * Katalin Novák (born 1977), Hungarian politician, president of Hungary in 2022–2024 * Ljudmila Novak (born 1959), Slovenian politician * Michael Novak (1933–2017), American Roman Catholic philosopher and diplomat *

Miroslav Novák Miroslav Novák (26 October 1907, Kyjov, Czechoslovakia – 5 May 2000, Rouen, France was a Czech theologian of the Old Testament, a spiritual bishop and between 1961 and 1990, the patriarch of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. Miroslav Novák (D ...

(1907–2000), Czech Hussite bishop * Robert Novak (1931–2009), American journalist, writer and political commentator *

Slobodan Prosperov Novak Slobodan Prosperov Novak (born 11 April 1951), is a Croatian literature historian, comparativist and theatrologist. Biography Prosperov Novak was born in Belgrade, but spent his childhood in Dubrovnik. He graduated comparative literature in 1973 ...

(born 1951), Croatian literary historian * Štefan Novák (1879–1932), Slovak Greek Catholic bishop * Tom Novak, American economist and academic * Viktor Novak (1889–1977), Croat historian * Viveca Novak, American journalist * Zdeněk Novák (1891–1988), Czech military officer

Given name bearers

Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Новак Ђоковић, Novak Đoković, separator=" / ", ; born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as the List of ATP number 1 ranked singles tennis players#Weeks at N ...

(born 1987), Serbian tennis player * Starina Novak (1530–1601), Serbian brigand and rebel * Novak Grebostrek (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1312), Serbian commander * Novak Karaljuk (

1404), Serbian commander * Novak Kilibarda (1934–2023), Montenegrin politician * Novak Martinović (born 1985), Serbian footballer * Novak Radonić (1826–1890), Serbian painter * Novak Roganović (1932–2008), Serbian footballer * Novak Tomić (1936–2003), Serbian footballer

Fictional people

* Allie Novak, character from the Australian drama series ''Wentworth'' *Arpad Novack, from '' Illatszertár'' (''Parfumerie''), the Hungarian play used as inspiration for ''The Shop Around the Corner'' *Barbara Novak, in the movie ''

Down with Love ''Down with Love'' is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Peyton Reed. It stars Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor and is a pastiche of the early-1960s American "no-sex sex comedies", such as '' Pillow Talk'' and ''Lover Come Back'' (both ...

'' played by Renée Zellweger *Billy Novak, in the Amazon television series '' The Collection'' *Bobby Novak, from the American television series '' Pearson'' * Casey Novak, in ''Law & Order: SVU'' *Dazzle Novak, in the television series '' Moonbeam City'' *Holland and Dewey Novak, characters in the television series '' Eureka Seven'' *James Novak, a character on the television series ''

Scandal A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way a ...

'' * Jessica Novak, eponymous character of American drama television series *Jimmy Novak, his wife Amelia and his daughter Claire Novak, from the television series ''Supernatural'' *John Novak, protagonist of the television show ''

Mr. Novak ''Mr. Novak'' is an American television drama (film and television), drama television series starring James Franciscus in the title role as a high school teacher. The series aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965. It won a Peabody Award ...

'' *Klara Novak, a character on '' The Shop Around the Corner'', played by Margaret Sullavan * Lindsey Novak, recurring character in the ''Stargate Atlantis'' television series *Oscar Novak, main character of the romantic comedy film '' Three to Tango''. *Pat Novak, in ''The Novak Element'' in the movie ''

RoboCop ''RoboCop'' is a 1987 American Science fiction film, science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. The film stars Peter Weller, Nancy Allen (actress), Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Dani ...

'' *Pat Novak, played by Jack Webb in the old-time radio program '' Pat Novak, for Hire'' *Sydney Novak, played by Sophia Lillis in the Netflix series '' I Am Not Okay With This'' *Trishka Novak, character in the 2011 video game '' Bulletstorm'' *Zig Novak, character on television series '' Degrassi''

References

{{given name, type=both Slavic-language surnames Serbo-Croatian-language surnames Czech-language surnames Slovak-language surnames Hungarian-language surnames Serbian masculine given names Montenegrin masculine given names