List of people from Croatia



The following is a list of prominent individuals who are or were Croatian citizens or of Croatian ancestry.

Architecture

 * Viktor Axmann – architect, Jewish
 * Nikola Bašić – architect
 * Vjekoslav Bastl – architect
 * Julio Deutsch – architect, art nouveau style,
 * Hugo Ehrlich – architect, Jewish
 * Ignjat Fischer – architect, Jewish
 * Stjepan Gomboš – architect, Jewish
 * Vjekoslav Heinzel
 * Leo Hönigsberg – architect, Jewish
 * Lavoslav Horvat
 * Drago Ibler
 * Viktor Kovačić – architect
 * Slavko Löwy – architect, Jewish
 * Rudolf Lubinski – architect, Jewish
 * Paskoje Miličević Mihov – architect
 * Vlado Milunić – architect
 * Juraj Neidhardt – architect
 * Velimir Neidhardt – architect
 * Stjepan Planić – architect
 * Vjenceslav Richter – architect
 * Vladimir Šterk – architect, Jewish
 * Anđeo Lovrov Zadranin – architect

Sculpture

 * Antun Augustinčić
 * Lujo Bezeredi
 * Andrija Buvina
 * Ante Dabro
 * Juraj Dalmatinac
 * Branislav Dešković
 * Ivan Duknović
 * Dušan Džamonja
 * Robert Frangeš-Mihanović
 * Ivo Kerdić
 * Albert Kinert
 * Ivan Kožarić
 * Frano Kršinić
 * Vasko Lipovac
 * Ivan Meštrović
 * Oscar Nemon
 * Dimitrije Popović
 * Kosta Angeli Radovani
 * Vanja Radauš
 * Master Radovan
 * Ivan Rendić
 * Toma Rosandić
 * Branko Ružić
 * Ivan Sabolić
 * Petar Smajić
 * Aleksandar Srnec
 * Marija Ujević-Galetović
 * Maksimilijan Vanka
 * Franjo Vranjanin

Painting

 * Oskar Alexander
 * Lovro Artuković
 * Vladimir Becić
 * Federiko Benković
 * Lujo Bezeredi
 * Charles Billich
 * Nikola Božidarević
 * Vlaho Bukovac
 * Eugen Buktenica
 * Bela Čikoš Sesija – painter, representative of symbolism: art-deco and art nouveau
 * Menci Clement Crnčić
 * Josip Crnobori
 * Lovro Dobričević
 * Jelena Dorotka
 * Davor Džalto
 * Marta Ehrlich
 * Emerik Feješ
 * Eva Fischer
 * Alen Floričić
 * Dragan Gaži
 * Vilko Gecan
 * Ivan Generalić – naïve art
 * Josip Generalić
 * Oton Gliha
 * Petar Grgec
 * Krsto Hegedušić
 * Oskar Herman
 * Josip Horvat Međimurec
 * Mirko Ilić – cartoonist, graphic designer
 * Nina Ivančić
 * Oton Iveković
 * Marijan Jevšovar
 * Ignjat Job
 * Drago Jurak
 * Gabrijel Jurkić
 * Vjekoslav Karas
 * John of Kastav
 * Albert Kinert
 * Željko Kipke
 * Mira Klobučar
 * Juraj Julije Klović – portrait miniatures
 * Tripo Kokolja
 * Edo Kovačević
 * Mijo Kovačić
 * Ladislav Kralj
 * Miroslav Kraljević
 * Živa Kraus
 * Kristian Kreković
 * Vlado Kristl
 * Tomislav Krizman
 * Izidor Kršnjavi
 * Ferdinand Kulmer
 * Ivan Lacković Croata – naïve art
 * Loren Ligorio
 * Vasko Lipovac
 * Zvonimir Lončarić
 * Dora Maar – photographer, painter, model
 * Andrija Maurović – illustrator
 * Mato Celestin Medović
 * Martin Mehkek
 * Ivan Milat-Luketa
 * Jerolim Miše
 * Antun Motika
 * Franjo Mraz
 * Edo Murtić
 * Virgilije Nevjestić
 * Vera Nikolić Podrinska
 * Alfred Pal
 * Ordan Petlevski
 * Ivan Picelj
 * Dimitrije Popović
 * Oton Postružnik
 * Ivan Rabuzin – naïve art
 * Josip Račić
 * Mirko Rački
 * Božidar Rašica
 * Slava Raškaj
 * Ivan Rein
 * Martino Rota
 * Đuro Seder
 * Zlatko Sirotić
 * Matija Skurjeni
 * Petar Smajić
 * Aleksandar Srnec
 * Miljenko Stančić
 * Slavko Stolnik
 * Zlatko Šulentić
 * Miroslav Šutej
 * Marino Tartaglia
 * Đuro Tiljak
 * Ivan Tišov
 * Lavoslav Torti
 * Marijan Trepše
 * Ana Tzarev – naïve art
 * Milivoj Uzelac – painter
 * Maksimilijan Vanka
 * Vladimir Varlaj
 * Ivan Večenaj
 * Matko Vekić
 * Mladen Veža – illustrator
 * Emanuel Vidović
 * Mirko Virius – naïve art
 * Adolf Waldinger
 * Viktor Đerek – photographer

Film and theatre

 * Ante Babaja
 * Steve Bacic
 * Relja Bašić – actor
 * Branko Bauer
 * George Beban – actor, director, writer and producer
 * Ena Begović
 * Mia Begović
 * Rene Bitorajac
 * Mirjana Bohanec
 * Slavko Brankov
 * Vinko Brešan – director
 * Veljko Bulajić – ethnic Montenegrin film director
 * Zlatko Burić – actor
 * Boris Buzančić – actor
 * Nathaniel Buzolic – actor
 * Al Christy – actor
 * Petra Cicvarić
 * Christina Cindrich – television producer, host, and actress
 * Zlatko Crnković – actor
 * Zrinka Cvitešić
 * Nataša Dorčić
 * Vanja Drach
 * Claire Du Brey – actress
 * Vlatko Dulić – actor
 * Boris Dvornik – actor
 * Jenna Elfman – television and movie actress
 * Stipe Erceg – actor
 * Nela Eržišnik – actress, comedian
 * Judah Friedlander – actor and comedian
 * Mira Furlan – actress (Babylon 5, Lost)
 * Stanka Gjurić – actress, writer, filmmaker
 * Gallagher – comedian and prop comic
 * Emil Glad
 * Ratko Glavina
 * Obrad Gluščević
 * Ljupka Gojić – model
 * Krešo Golik
 * Frank Gorshin – actor and comedian
 * Ivo Gregurević
 * Gloria Grey – screen, stage actress and director
 * Goran Grgić
 * Rajko Grlić
 * Fedor Hanžeković
 * Ivan Herceg – actor
 * Werner Herzog – film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director
 * Alaina Huffman
 * Željko Ivanek – actor
 * Nives Ivanković
 * Anne Jackson – actress
 * Nataša Janjić
 * Toni Jeričević
 * Anthony Jeselnik – comedian
 * Mladen Juran
 * Sena Jurinac
 * Jagoda Kaloper
 * Saby Kamalich
 * Sonja Kastl
 * Ljubomir Kerekeš
 * Michael Klesic – actor
 * Matija Kluković
 * Sylva Koscina – actress, model
 * Mario Kovač – theatre and film director
 * Robert Kurbaša
 * Frano Lasić
 * John G. Lenic
 * Rachel Leskovac – actress
 * Edvin Liverić
 * Leon Lučev
 * Branko Lustig – film producer (winner of two Oscar awards)
 * Franjo Majetić
 * John Malkovich
 * Dalibor Matanić
 * Nevio Marasović
 * Branko Marjanović
 * Ante Čedo Martinić
 * Stojan Matavulj
 * Mark Matkevich – actor
 * Rene Medvešek
 * Sven Medvešek
 * Oktavijan Miletić
 * Ivana Miličević – actress
 * Vatroslav Mimica
 * Ildy Modrovich – television producer, writer and singer
 * Nina Morić – model
 * Patrick Muldoon – actor
 * Lorenzo Music – actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician
 * Antun Nalis – actor
 * Bojan Navojec
 * Maja Nekić
 * Antonio Nuić
 * Zrinko Ogresta
 * Marija Omaljev-Grbić
 * Mia Oremović
 * Krsto Papić – film director
 * Leona Paraminski
 * Frank Pavich – film director, producer
 * Stjepan Perić
 * Anton Perich – filmmaker, photographer and video artist
 * Edo Peročević – actor, radio speaker
 * Žarko Potočnjak
 * Alma Prica
 * Ivica Rajković - cinematographer
 * Zvonimir Rogoz – actor
 * Rick Rossovich – actor
 * Branko Schmidt
 * Lucija Šerbedžija
 * Ivo Serdar
 * Shaun Sipos – actor
 * Marija Škaričić
 * Mia Čorak Slavenska – prima ballerina
 * Tonko Soljan – film and television producer
 * Fabijan Šovagović – actor
 * Filip Šovagović
 * Gabriela Spanic – actress
 * Lita Stantic – producer, screenplay writer, and director
 * Nera Stipičević
 * Yvonne Suhor – actress
 * Ognjen Sviličić
 * Nikola Tanhofer
 * Vanessa Terkes – actress, TV show host in Latin America; her grandfather Cvjetko was Croatian
 * Ivica Vidović
 * Goran Višnjić – actor (ER)
 * Zlatko Vitez
 * Antun Vrdoljak – film director
 * Severina Vučković – entertainer, actress
 * Dianne Wiest – American actress
 * Anthony Yerkovich – television producer and writer
 * Matthew Yuricich – special effects artist
 * Richard Yuricich – special visual effects artist
 * Lordan Zafranović
 * Louis Zorich – American actor
 * Jim Zulevic – actor, comedian, TV writer, and radio host

Media

 * Lidia Bastianich – American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur
 * Adrian Chiles – British television and radio presenter
 * Slavica Ecclestone – British-Croatian former model
 * Robert Herjavec – Canadian businessman, investor, author, dancer, and television personality from Shark Tank
 * Bill Kurtis – journalist, television reporter, producer
 * Katie Pavlich – American conservative commentator, author, blogger, podcaster
 * Goran Milić – worked in HRT, now works in Al Jazeera
 * Tony Robbins – American life coach, self-help author and motivational speaker
 * Teresa Scanlan – Miss America 2011
 * Petra Stunt – British designer
 * Vladimir Herzog – Croatian born Brazilian journalist

History

 * James Belich – historian
 * Julije Kempf – historian, writer
 * Nada Klaić – historian
 * Vjekoslav Klaić – historian
 * Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski – historian
 * Ivan Lučić – historian
 * Dominik Mandić – historian
 * Franjo Rački – historian
 * Ivan Ratkaj – historian, Jesuit, explorer
 * Juraj Ratkaj – historian
 * Ferdo Šišić – historian
 * Ludovicus Tubero – historian

Invention

 * Zlata Bartl – inventor of Vegeta
 * Josip Belušić – inventor
 * Franjo Hannaman – inventor, engineer
 * Marcel Kiepach – inventor
 * Mario Kovač – computer engineering professor and inventor
 * Ferdinand Kovačević – inventor
 * Giovanni Luppis – inventor of the torpedo
 * Slavoljub Eduard Penkala – inventor
 * Mario Puratić – inventor who made major advances in fishing technology
 * Ralph Sarich – inventor of the orbital engine
 * David Schwarz – aviation pioneer of Jewish ancestry
 * Marin Soljačić – inventor of wireless energy transfer
 * Ante Šupuk – engineer
 * Tomislav Uzelac – programmer, inventor of the first successful MP3 player
 * Faust Vrančić – inventor of the parachute
 * Ivan Vučetić – inventor of dactyloscopy

Social science

 * Ivan Belostenec – lexicographer
 * Juraj Dobrila – cleric, benefactor
 * Elsie Ivancich Dunin – cultural ethnologist, author, professor, choreographer
 * Ljudevit Gaj – linguist, reformer
 * Vatroslav Jagić – philologist
 * Milan Kangrga – philosopher
 * Bartol Kašić – lexicographer
 * Juraj Križanić – social philosopher
 * Franjo Kuhač – folklorist, ethnologist
 * Jakov Mikalja – linguist and lexicographer
 * Miroslav Radman – genetic biologist
 * Stanislav Pavao Skalić – encyclopedist, adventurer
 * Rudolf Steiner – philosopher
 * Josip Juraj Strossmayer – cleric, benefactor
 * Rudi Supek – philosopher
 * Henry Suzzallo – educator
 * Ante Topić-Mimara – art collector
 * Vinko Žganec – folklorist, ethnomusicologist

Science

 * Gaja Alaga – physicist
 * Giorgio Baglivi – physician and scientist from Ragusa
 * Antun Karlo Bakotić – physicist and writer
 * Mladen Bestvina – mathematician
 * Ruđer Bošković – theologian, physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, diplomat, poet, Jesuit and polymath
 * Branko Bošnjaković – physicist, environmentalist
 * Fran Bošnjaković – engineer, physicist
 * Juraj Božičević – engineer
 * Frane Bulić – archaeologist
 * Predrag Cvitanović – physicist
 * Milislav Demerec – biologist
 * Andrija Dudić – naturalist, astronomer, physician
 * William Feller – mathematician
 * Andrija Fuderer – chemist, chess player
 * Artur Gavazzi – geographer
 * Marin Getaldić – physicist, mathematician
 * Vladimir Jurko Glaser – physicist
 * Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger – geologist, paleoanthropologist and paleontologist
 * Stjepan Gradić – mathematician, philosopher, physicist, writer and polymath
 * Mirko Dražen Grmek – physician, science writer and historian
 * Branko Horvat – economist
 * Željko Ivezić – astrophysicist
 * Zvonimir Janko – mathematician
 * Korado Korlević – astronomer, asteroid discoverer
 * Oton Kučera – mathematician, physicist
 * Zvonko Kusić – physician
 * Jacob Matijevic – NASA engineer
 * Eduard Miloslavić – physician
 * Andrija Mohorovičić – geophysicist
 * Stjepan Mohorovičić – physicist
 * Grga Novak – archaeologist, historian
 * Franjo Petriš – philosopher, humanist, writer and polymath
 * Đuro Pilar – geologist
 * Stjepan Poljak – physician
 * Eduard Prugovečki – physicist, writer
 * Miroslav Radman – biologist
 * Paško Rakić – neuroscientist
 * Goran Senjanović – physicist
 * Zvonimir Šeparović – lawyer, (victimology)
 * Ante Šercer – physician
 * Mihalj Šilobod Bolšić – Roman Catholic priest, mathematician, writer, and musical theorist who wrote the first Croatian arithmetic textbook
 * Marin Soljačić – physicist
 * Andrija Štampar – physician, diplomat
 * Marijan Šunjić – physicist
 * Ivan Supek – physicist, philosopher
 * Ćiro Truhelka – archaeologist and art historian
 * Vladimir Varičak – mathematician, physicist
 * Mirko Vidaković – forester, botanist
 * Nikola Vitov Gučetić – statesmen, philosopher, science writer
 * Zoran Vondraček - mathematician
 * Faust Vrančić – philosopher, thinker
 * Vladimir Vranić – mathematician
 * Juan Vucetich – anthropologist, police official who pioneered fingerprinting
 * Vladimir Žerjavić – statistician, economist

Nobel Prize

 * Nobel prize winner.svg Ivo Andrić – literature
 * Nobel prize winner.svg Paul L. Modrich – chemistry
 * Nobel prize winner.svg Vladimir Prelog – chemistry
 * Nobel prize winner.svg Lavoslav Ružička – chemistry

Composers

 * Julije Bajamonti – composer
 * Krešimir Baranović
 * Blagoje Bersa – composer
 * Jakov Gotovac – composer
 * Josip Hatze
 * Milan Horvat
 * Ivo Josipović – composer, 3rd President of Croatia
 * Igor Kuljerić – composer, conductor
 * Fran Lhotka
 * Clair Marlo – composer, real name Clara Veseliza
 * Lovro von Matačić
 * Johnny Mercer – American lyricist, singer-songwriter; co-founder of Capitol Records
 * Lav Mirski
 * Ivan Padovec – composer
 * Boris Papandopulo – conductor, composer
 * Dora Pejačević – composer
 * Milan Sachs
 * Luka Sorkočević – composer
 * Franz von Suppé – composer of light operas, born and raised in the Kingdom of Dalmatia
 * Josip Štolcer-Slavenski – composer
 * Stjepan Šulek – composer
 * Vjekoslav Šutej
 * Ivo Tijardović – composer
 * Ivan Zajc – composer

Classical

 * Zlatko Baloković – violinist
 * Max Emanuel Cenčić – countertenor
 * Valter Dešpalj – cellist
 * Sena Jurinac – opera singer
 * Franjo Krežma – violinist
 * Stephen Kovacevich – classical pianist
 * Ivo Maček – pianist
 * Lovro von Matačić – conductor
 * Zinka Kunc-Milanov – soprano
 * Maksim Mrvica – pianist
 * Tomislav Mužek – tenor
 * Ivo Pogorelić – pianist
 * Ema Pukšec (Ilma De Murska) – opera singer
 * Ruža Pospiš-Baldani – mezzo-soprano
 * Vjekoslav Šutej – conductor
 * Milka Trnina – soprano
 * Dunja Vejzović – soprano
 * Ana Vidović – guitarist
 * Dubravka Zubović – opera singer and voice teacher

Popular

 * 2Cellos – cellist duo
 * Baby Lasagna - singer, songwriter, music producer and guitarist
 * Lidija Bajuk – musician
 * Zvonko Bogdan – singer and performer of traditional folk songs
 * Michael Bublé – singer
 * Mate Bulić – singer
 * Tony Butala – singer of The Lettermen
 * Colonia – dance music group
 * Arsen Dedić – composer and singer
 * Veljko Despot – discographer
 * Darko Domijan – singer
 * Oliver Dragojević – singer
 * Doris Dragović – singer
 * Sergio Endrigo – singer
 * Flyer – band
 * Gibonni – singer
 * Davor Gobac – singer
 * Grše – rapper
 * Bobby Grubic – songwriter/composer, singer, music director and producer
 * Stjepan Hauser – cellist
 * Dino Jelusić – rock singer, musician, and songwriter
 * Delo Jusic – composer
 * Tereza Kesovija – singer
 * Mišo Kovač
 * Josipa Lisac – singer
 * Lorde – singer-songwriter, real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
 * Radoslav Lorković – folk and blues singer, pianist, accordionist
 * Magazin – pop band
 * Clair Marlo – singer-songwriter,composer,record producer, real name Clara Veseliza
 * Miljenko Matijevic – rock singer (Steelheart)
 * Miach – singer
 * Branko Mihaljević – composer, writer, journalist and radio editor
 * Sandra Mihanovich – singer, musician, and composer
 * Guy Mitchell – singer (born Albert George Cernik)
 * Alan Merrill – vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, actor and model
 * Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milčetić) – jazz singer
 * Tomo Milicevic – 30 Seconds to Mars
 * Paul Mirkovich – musician, musical director
 * Milan Mladenović – singer, guitar player
 * Drago Mlinarec – rock singer-songwriter
 * Larry Muhoberac – American musician, record producer, and composer
 * Nikolija – singer
 * Boris Novković – pop singer
 * Krist Novoselić – rock musician (Nirvana)
 * Jurica Pađen – rock singer-songwriter
 * David Paich – American musician, best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist and secondary vocalist of the rock band Toto
 * Daniella Pavicic – singer-songwriter
 * Marko Perković Thompson – rock singer
 * Plavka - American singer
 * Riva – band, 1989 Eurovision song contest winners
 * Ivo Robić – singer
 * Darko Rundek – singer and actor
 * Saša, Tin i Kedžo – first Croatian boy band
 * Krunoslav "Kićo" Slabinac – singer and composer of traditional folk songs
 * Jura Stublić – rock singer
 * Ivica Šerfezi – singer
 * Miroslav Škoro – singer
 * Luka Šulić – cellist
 * Branimir Štulić (Djoni) – rock singer-songwriter
 * The Bambi Molesters – rock band
 * Elizabeth Anka Vajagic – singer/guitarist
 * Johnny Vidacovich – drummer
 * Siniša Vuco – singer
 * Severina Vučković – pop singer
 * Vice Vukov – singer

Literature

 * Ivo Andrić – novelist, poet and short story writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961
 * Ivan Aralica – writer
 * Franjo Babić – writer, journalist
 * Zvonimir Balog – poet, writer
 * Juraj Baraković – poet
 * Milan Begović – writer
 * Sabo Bobaljević – poet
 * Lukrecija Bogašinović Budmani – poet
 * Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić – writer
 * Mile Budak – writer
 * Dobriša Cesarić – writer
 * Milan Crnković – writer
 * Džore Držić – poet, playwright
 * Blanka Dovjak-Matković – poet, writer
 * Slavenka Drakulić – writer, journalist
 * Tomislav Dretar – writer, politician, journalist, critic
 * Marin Držić – writer
 * Ignjat Đurđević – poet, translator, historian, astronomer and Benedict monk
 * Viktor Car Emin – writer from Istria
 * Filip Erceg – writer and socialist politician
 * Đuro Ferić – poet
 * Drago Gervais – poet and playwright, paternal French descent
 * Đivo Šiškov Gundulić – poet, dramatist and nobleman
 * Ksaver Šandor Gjalski – writer
 * Stanka Gjurić – poet and essayist
 * Ivan Gundulić – Ragusan poet
 * Petar Hektorović – writer
 * Miljenko Jergović – writer
 * Marija Jurić Zagorka – novelist
 * Andrija Kačić Miošić – poet
 * Janko Polić Kamov – avant-garde writer
 * Brne Karnarutić – poet
 * Radoslav Katičić – linguist, classical philologist, Indo-Europeanist, Slavist and Indologist
 * Snježana Kordić – linguist
 * Ante Kovačić – writer
 * Ivan Goran Kovačić – poet
 * Ron Kovic – Vietnam War veteran, writer and peace activist
 * Josip Kozarac – writer
 * Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević – poet
 * Miroslav Krleža – novelist, writer, philosopher, encyclopedist
 * Eugen Kumičić – writer
 * Tomislav Ladan – writer
 * Božena Loborec – poet, writer
 * Hanibal Lucić – writer
 * Darko Macan – writer
 * Vjekoslav Majer – poet
 * Igor Mandić – journalist
 * Ranko Marinković – writer
 * Marko Marulić – writer
 * Antun Gustav Matoš – poet
 * Ivan Mažuranić – poet
 * Šiško Menčetić – poet
 * Slavko Mihalić – poet, writer, journalist
 * Zvonimir Milčec – writer, journalist
 * Mijo Mirković – writer, economist
 * Vjenceslav Novak – writer
 * Josip Novakovich – writer
 * Janus Pannonius (Ivan Česmički) – Hungarian poet of 15th century, of Croatian descent
 * Vesna Parun – poet
 * Vlatko Pavletić – theorist of literature, essayist and critic, politician
 * Mikša Pelegrinović – poet
 * Dalibor Perković – writer
 * Sanja Pilić – writer
 * Paula Preradović – poet
 * Petar Preradović – poet
 * Ivan Raos – writer, journalist
 * Matija Antun Relković – writer
 * Milan Rešetar – writer (ethnic Serb)
 * Paul Salopek – journalist
 * Paul Skalich – encyclopedist, Renaissance humanist and adventurer
 * Antonio Skármeta – Chilean writer
 * Ivan Slamnig – poet, novelist, literary theorist, translator
 * Sonja Smolec – poet and writer
 * Antun Sorkočević – writer, diplomat, composer
 * Višnja Stahuljak – writer
 * August Šenoa – writer
 * Antun Branko Šimić – poet
 * Dinko Šimunović – writer
 * Sunčana Škrinjarić – writer, poet, journalist
 * Slobodan Šnajder – writer
 * Antun Šoljan – poet
 * Drago Štambuk – poet
 * Dragutin Tadijanović – poet
 * Mihály Táncsics – writer, teacher, journalist and politician
 * Ante Tomić – writer
 * Josip Eugen Tomić – writer
 * Jagoda Truhelka – writer, pedagogist
 * Dubravka Ugrešić – writer
 * Tin Ujević – poet
 * Mavro Vetranović – writer, Benedictine friar
 * Viktor Vida – writer
 * Mirko Vidović – writer
 * Jeronim Vidulić – Renaissance poet, priest
 * Grigor Vitez – poet
 * Pavao Ritter Vitezović – writer, historian, linguist and publisher
 * Ivo Vojnović – writer
 * Stanko Vraz – poet (ethnic Slovene)
 * Sonja Yelich – poet
 * Dinko Zlatarić – poet, translator, considered the best translator of the Renaissance
 * Petar Zoranić – writer
 * Nikola Zrinski – poet, philosopher, soldier
 * Aleksandar Žiljak – writer

Business

 * Madeline-Ann Aksich – businesswoman, philanthropist and artist
 * Benedetto Cotrugli – merchant, economist, scientist, diplomat and humanist. Wrote the first description of double-entry bookkeeping.
 * Mike Grgich – winemaker
 * Victor Grinich – pioneer in the semiconductor industry
 * Robert Herjavec – businessman, Herjavec Group, Dragons' Den and Shark Tank
 * Antony Lucich-Lucas – engineer; crude oil exploration, Gulf Oil; Texaco
 * Andrónico Luksic – Antofagasta PLC; richest Croat ever
 * Michela Magas – designer, entrepreneur and innovation specialist
 * Anthony Maglica – Maglite
 * Branko Marinkovic – businessman
 * Dietrich Mateschitz – Burgenland Croats; billionaire, owner of Red Bull corp.
 * Nicolás Mihanovich – shipping magnate
 * Boris Mikšić – Cortec Corporation
 * Nikola Nobilo – wine maker
 * Mario Puratić – inventor, businessman
 * Bill Rancic – entrepreneur
 * Al Ljutic – Ljutic Industries
 * Mate Rimac – Rimac Automobili and Bugatti Rimac

Exploration

 * Ferdinand Konščak – explorer
 * Dragutin Lerman – explorer
 * Ignacije Szentmartony – explorer
 * Željko Malnar – explorer, producer
 * Mirko and Stjepan Seljan – explorers
 * Ignacije Szentmartony – explorer
 * Ivan Visin – explorer

Military

 * Edgar Angeli – Rear Admiral during World War II (ethnic Jewish)
 * Vilko Begić – Colonel General during World War II
 * Matija Čanić – General during World War II
 * Bernhard Caboga-Cerva – Feldzeugmeister of the Austrian Empire
 * Josip Kazimir Drašković – General in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763)
 * Mato Dukovac – Croatian World War II fighter ace
 * Mirosław Ferić – Polish fighter pilot of World War II, Bosnian Croat father
 * Jure Francetić – Ustashe Commissioner
 * Cvitan Galić – Croatian World War II fighter ace
 * Ilija Gregorić – Military commander of rebels during the Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt
 * Matija Gubec – leader of the Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt
 * Luka Ibrišimović – Priest and Hajduk
 * Đuro Jakčin – Naval Commander and first Commander of the Navy during World War II
 * Nikola Jurišić – nobleman, soldier, and diplomat
 * Ivan Karlović – ban of Croatia
 * Petar Keglević – ban of Croatia and Slavonia
 * Vinko Knežević – nobleman and General in the Habsburg Austria Army
 * Vladimir Kren – Major General and Commander of the Air Force during World War II
 * Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia – medieval king and military leader
 * Petar Kružić – heroic defender of Klis against the Turks
 * Grgo Kusić – tallest Croat ever, tallest soldier of Austro-Hungarian Army
 * Slavko Kvaternik – Minister of Armed Forces during World War II
 * Ivan Lenković – Army general and the leader of the Uskoks
 * Mladen Lorković – Foreign Minister and Minister of Interior during World War II
 * Marko Mesić – priest and war hero from the Ottoman Wars
 * Vladimir Metikoš – General during World War II
 * Vladimir Majder – Croatian partisan and Spanish Civil War veteran
 * Miroslav Navratil – fighter pilot during WWI, General during WWII
 * Michael J. Novosel – hero of the Vietnam War
 * Rüstem Pasha Opuković – Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
 * Piyale Pasha – Ottoman Grand Admiral and Vizier
 * Lothar Rendulic – Austrian Colonel General during World War II
 * Mathias Rukavina von Boynograd – General in the Austro-Hungarian Army
 * Stjepan Sarkotić – General in the Austro-Hungarian Army
 * Arsen Sečujac – General in the Habsburg Austria Army
 * Tomislav Sertić – General during World War II
 * Ivan L. Slavich, Jr. – United States Army colonel, military pioneer, served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War
 * Andrijica Šimić – legendary hajduk
 * Tom Starcevich – Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross during WWII
 * Ivan Tomašević – soldier and World War II General
 * Tomislav – first Croatian king
 * Peter Tomich (Petar Tomić) – U.S. Army and U.S. Navy
 * Mijat Tomić – Croatian legendary Hajduk
 * Baron Franjo Trenk – leader of Pandurs; father of military music
 * Franjo Vlašić – General and Ban
 * Josef Philipp Vukassovich – Habsburg commander
 * Matija Zmajević – Admiral of the Baltic fleet
 * Petar Zrinski – Croatian ban and conspirator
 * Nikola Šubić Zrinski – Croatian ban, hero of the Battle of Szigetvár
 * Nikola VII Zrinski – Croatian ban, warrior and poet

Croatian War for Independence

 * Janko Bobetko – general
 * Ante Gotovina – general pukovnik
 * Josip Jović – Croatian policeman, first victim in Independence War
 * Rudolf Perešin – fighter pilot
 * Blago Zadro – general

Politics

 * Mehmed Alajbegović – Foreign Minister and Minister of Walfare during World War II
 * Josip Broz Tito – ruler of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1980
 * Dražen Budiša – politician
 * Ivana Dulić-Marković – Serbian politician of Croat ethnicity; vice-president of G17 Plus; former Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and once Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
 * Josip Frank – Croatian patriot politician (ethnic Jewish)
 * Andrija Hebrang – Croatian communist party leader, nationally conscious (ethnic Jewish)
 * Većeslav Holjevac – a president of SR Croatia in Yugoslavia and a long-time mayor of its capital Zagreb
 * Josip Jelačić – soldier, former Croatian ban
 * Osman Kulenović – Deputy Prime Minister NDH
 * Džafer-beg Kulenović – politician in NDH
 * Vladko Maček – political centrist, leader of the Croatian Peasant Party before the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia
 * Nikola Mandić – Prime Minister during World II
 * Ante Marković – former Yugoslav prime minister
 * Stipe Mesić – President of the Republic of Croatia
 * Dr. Ante Pavelić (older) – vice-president of the National assembly of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
 * Ante Pavelić – Ustaša leader
 * Andrej Plenković – prime minister
 * Stjepan Radić – Croatian national leader in 1st half of 20th century
 * Ante Starčević – "father of Croat nation"
 * Milan Šufflay – historian, one of greatest albanologists
 * Ante Trumbić – Croatian national leader
 * Franjo Tuđman – first President of Croatia, founder of modern Croatia

Foreign figures of Croatian descent
People of Croatian ancestry who are high-ranked officials of other countries:
 * Mark Begich – US Senator from Alaska
 * James Belich – former Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand
 * Cesar Bielich-Pomareda – Minister of the Navy of Peru
 * Michael Bilandic – former Mayor of Chicago; former Illinois State Supreme Court Chief Justice
 * Gabriel Boric – President of Chile
 * Natasha Stott Despoja – Australian Democrat Senator
 * Ivan Gašparovič – President of Slovakia (Croatian father)
 * Cedomil Lausic Glasinovic – Chilean MIR activist, executed 1975
 * Alejandro Jadresic – Chilean Energy Minister, engineer, economist; awarded the Order of Prince Trpmir of the Republic of Croatia
 * John Kasich – Governor of Ohio
 * Dennis Kucinich – US Representative from Ohio; former Mayor of Cleveland
 * Frank Mahovlich – Canadian Senator (NHL Hall of Famer)
 * Mary Matalin – US political consultant
 * Josip Marohnić – founding father of Croatian Fraternal Union
 * Javier Milei – President of Argentina
 * John Newman – assassinated Australian politician, martyr
 * Roy Nikisch – Governor of Chaco, Argentina
 * Francisco Orlić Bolmarčić – former President of Costa Rica, Croat parents
 * Rudy Perpich – former Governor of Minnesota
 * Baldo Prokurica – former Congressman, current Senator in Chile
 * Edmundo Pérez Zujovic – Chilean PDC, Minister of Finance, Interior and of Public Works, assassinated in 1971
 * George Radanovich – US Representative from California
 * Anisha Rosnah - Princess of the royal family of Brunei (Croat father)
 * Clem Simich – Member of NZ Parliament
 * Jorge Sobisch – Governor of Neuquén, Argentina
 * Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic – former Chilean First Lady
 * Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić – former president of Argentina (Chilean mother of Croatian descent)
 * Eric Skrmetta – US politician
 * Vincent Thomas – US politician
 * Michael Anthony Stepovich – former Governor of Alaska
 * Radomiro Tomic – former Chilean Deputy, Senator and Ambassador
 * Lynne Yelich – Member of Canadian Parliament

Religion

 * Ivan Ančić – theological writer
 * Josip Bozanić – cardinal
 * Markantun de Dominis – archbishop
 * Matija Vlačić Ilirik – Protestant reformer
 * Juraj Habdelić – Jesuit and writer
 * Luka Ibrišimović – friar, leader of an uprising against Ottoman forces in Slavonia
 * Estanislao Esteban Karlic – Archbishop of Paraná, Argentina
 * Bartol Kašić – Jesuit and grammarian during the Counter-Reformation
 * Baltazar Adam Krčelić – historian, theologian and lawyer
 * Marko Krizin (Marko Križevčanin) – saint
 * Antun Mahnić – bishop
 * Leopold Mandić – saint
 * Ivan Merz – beatified
 * Gregory of Nin – bishop
 * Franciscus Patricius – philosopher and scientist
 * Marija Petković – beatified nun
 * Ivo Protulipac – layman
 * Vinko Puljić – Cardinal Priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Sarajevo
 * John of Ragusa – Cardinal
 * Franjo Šeper – Cardinal and Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
 * Alojzije Stepinac – archbishop, beatified
 * Zlatko Sudac – stigmatic
 * Nikola Tavelić – saint
 * Miroslav Volf – Christian theologian
 * Bernard Zamanja – theologist

Heroism

 * Paul Bucha
 * Mila Gojsalić
 * Nikola Jurišić
 * Marko Križevčanin
 * Michael J. Novosel
 * Petar Perica
 * Nikola Tavelić
 * Mijat Tomić
 * John J. Tominac
 * Ivan Vranetić

Urban legends

 * Jure Grando – first real person described as a vampire in historical records
 * Joe Magarac – American steel worker of Croatian extraction.
 * Joe "Pegleg" Morgan – first non-Hispanic member of the Mexican Mafia
 * Frane Selak – survivor of seven incidents of possible death, lottery winner
 * Matija Babić

Sport

 * John Abramovic – former basketball player, played in the Basketball Association of America for Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers, Baltimore Bullets and Syracuse Nationals
 * Mirko Alilović – handball goalkeeper
 * Mario Ančić – tennis; Davis Cup Champion
 * Johnny Babich – former baseball player, played in Major League Baseball for Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Bees, and Philadelphia Athletics
 * Dalibor Bagarić – former NBA player
 * Ivano Balić – handball player, IHF player of the year 2003, 2006
 * Zvonko Bego – football player
 * Željko Bilecki – football player
 * Bill Belichick – NFL Coach
 * Brian Billick – NFL coach
 * Gary Beban – former NFL player
 * Dragan Bender (born 1997) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Pete Bercich – former NFL player
 * Dražen Besek – football coach and former player
 * Sandra Bezic – figure skater, choreographer and television commentator
 * Val Bezic – figure skater
 * Slaven Bilić – former football player, former manager of Croatian national football team and former manager of West Ham United in the Premier League
 * Dražen Biškup – football coach and former player
 * Djurdjica Bjedov – swimmer
 * Zlatko Dalić – former football player, current manager of Croatian national football team
 * Zlatan Ibrahimović – football player
 * Antonio Blasevich – football player and coach
 * Goran Blažević – football goalkeeper
 * Miroslav Blažević – football Manager
 * Zvonimir Boban – football player
 * Bojan Bogdanović – basketball player in NBA
 * Andrew Bogut – NBA basketball player
 * Alen Bokšić – football player
 * Tamara Boroš – table tennis champion
 * Mark Bosnich – football goalkeeper, Premier League
 * Mark Bresciano – football player (Italian father, Croat mother)
 * Reid Brignac – baseball player
 * Denis Buntić – handball player
 * Nick Burley – boxer
 * Tony Butkovich – American football player, All-American
 * Pete Carroll – NFL head coach and executive vice president
 * Joseph Cattarinich – NHL Hall of Famer
 * George Chuvalo – heavyweight boxer
 * Branko Cikatić – First K-1 Grand Prix Winner (kickboxing)
 * Marin Čilić – No. 1 Junior in the World (tennis) and US Open champion
 * Ann Cindric – baseball player
 * Vedran Ćorluka – football player
 * Krešimir Ćosić – member of the basketball Hall of Famer
 * Fred Couples – golfer (former World number 1)
 * Helen Crlenkovich – athlete
 * Dario Cvitanich – football player, Ajax
 * Ivona Dadic – Austrian track and field athlete
 * Nick Dasovic – football player and coach
 * Paul Diamond – professional wrestler, soccer player
 * David Diehl – NFL player
 * Nicholas Drazenovic – ice hockey player
 * Stipe Drews – boxing champion
 * Domagoj Duvnjak – handball player
 * Marina Erakovic – tennis player, New Zealand
 * Abby Erceg – football player, New Zealand
 * Eddie Erdelatz – American football player
 * Elvis Fatović – former water polo player and coach, European and World medalist
 * Mirko Filipović (Cro Cop) – mixed martial artist and kickboxer; K-1
 * Jonathan Filewich – ice hockey player
 * Mark Fistric – ice hockey player
 * Dražen Funtak – sprint canoer
 * Gary Gabelich – American automobile-racing driver
 * Ray Gabelich – Australian Rules footballer
 * Gabre Gabric – track and field athlete
 * Gino Gardassanich – football player
 * Gordan Giriček – former NBA player
 * Mike Golic – co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning; former NFL player
 * Kara Goucher – long-distance runner
 * Elvis Grbac – NFL player
 * Great Antonio – strongman
 * Visco Grgich – former NFL player
 * Bobby Grich – former MLB player
 * Tom Haller – MLB baseball player
 * Justin Hamilton – basketball player
 * Travis Hamonic – ice hockey player
 * John Havlicek – basketball player
 * John Hecimovic – ice hockey player
 * Frankie Hejduk – football player, MLS
 * Mario Hezonja – basketball player, NBA
 * Zvonimir Boban – football player
 * Robert Jarni – football player
 * Saša Hiršzon (born 1972) – tennis player
 * Ico Hitrec – football player
 * Hrvoje Horvat – handball player
 * Les Horvath – former NFL player
 * Tony Hrkac – ice hockey player
 * Dick Hrstich – New Zealand wrestler
 * Goran Ivanišević – tennis player; Wimbledon Champion; two Olympic bronze medals, 1992
 * Andreas Ivanschitz – football player
 * Robert Jarni – former football player
 * Nikica Jelavić – former football player
 * Ana Jelušić – skier
 * Dražan Jerković – football player (top scorer WC 1962 and EURO 1960)
 * Ed Jurak – baseball player
 * Al Jurisich – baseball player
 * Igor Jurković – kickboxer
 * John Jurkovic – NFL player
 * Tvrtko Kale – football player, goalkeeper (Hapoel Haifa)
 * Ivo Karlović – tennis player
 * Mario Kasun – former NBA player, Orlando Magic
 * Siniša Kelečević (born 1970) – basketball player
 * Ivan Klasnić – former football player
 * Marko Kopljar – handball player
 * Ante Kostelić – Alpine skiing coach
 * Ivica Kostelić – Alpine Skiing Slalom World Cup Champion (three Olympic silvers)
 * Janica Kostelić – A.S. World Cup Champion in 2001, 2003 & 2006 (four Olympic golds, two silvers)
 * Dan Kordic – ice hockey player
 * John Kordic – ice hockey player
 * Robert Kovač – football player
 * Niko Kovač –former football player current manager of Wfl Wolfsburg
 * Mario Kovačević – football coach and former player
 * Niko Kranjčar – former football player
 * Mike Kreevich – baseball player
 * Toni Kukoč – NBA player (NBA Sixth Man of the Year 1995–96)
 * Blaženko Lacković – handball player
 * Dražen Ladić – former football goalkeeper
 * Stefan Leko – kickboxer
 * Curt Leskanic – former MLB pitcher
 * Matija Ljubek – kayaker
 * Ivan Ljubičić – former tennis player; Davis Cup Champion (#3)
 * Johnny Logan – baseball player
 * Mickey Lolich – baseball player
 * Venio Losert – handball goalkeeper
 * Steve Lubratich – baseball player
 * Dan Luger – rugby union player
 * Frank Mahovlich – NHL Hall of Famer (1958 Calder Trophy winner)
 * Pete Mahovlich – NHL player
 * Iva Majoli – Roland Garros Champion
 * Tony Mandarich – American football player
 * John Mandic – NBA player
 * Mario Mandžukić – former football player
 * Todd Marinovich – former NFL player
 * Marv Marinovich – former NFL player
 * Vic Markov – American football player
 * Roger Maris – baseball player, MLB
 * Željko Mavrović – former European boxing champion
 * John Mayasich – former hockey player
 * Catfish Metkovich – baseball player
 * Petar Metličić – handball player
 * Siniša Mihajlović – (mother's side family) football player
 * Marcello Mihalich – football player
 * George Mikan (Mr. Basketball) – NBA (Basketball Hall of Fame)
 * Pat Miletich – UFC mixed martial artist
 * Stipe Miocic – UFC mixed martial artist
 * Luka Modrić – football player, plays for Real Madrid C.F.
 * Sofía Mulánovich – surfer
 * Dražen Mužinić – football player
 * Zdravko Miljak – handball player
 * Rob Ninkovich – American football player
 * Frank Nobilo – NZ golfer
 * Mirjana Ognjenović – former Yugoslav/Croatian handball player
 * Phil Oreskovic – ice hockey player
 * Victor Oreskovich – ice hockey player
 * Erv Palica – former MLB pitcher
 * Mate Parlov – boxing champion
 * Mark Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL
 * Marty Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL
 * Matt Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL official
 * Snježana Pejčić – shooting player
 * Sandra Perković – discus thrower
 * Nikolaj Pešalov – Olympic gold medal winner in weightlifting
 * Johnny Pesky – baseball player, manager and coach
 * Dražen Petrović – NBA Hall of Famer
 * Zoran Planinić – former NBA player
 * Dan Plesac – former MLB pitcher
 * Diana Prazak – professional boxer
 * Robert Prosinečki – football player
 * Joel Prpic – ice hockey player
 * Dado Pršo – football player
 * Braslav Rabar – chess player
 * Dino Rađa – former NBA star
 * Paul Radisich – racing driver
 * Nikola Radulović – basketball player
 * Ivan Rakitić – footballer, plays for FC Barcelona
 * Ante Razov – football player
 * Jules Rykovich – former NFL player
 * Borna Rendulić – NHL player
 * Vedran Runje – former football goalkeeper
 * Lou Saban – NFL coach
 * Nick Saban – college football coach
 * Spider Sabich – alpine skier
 * Vladimir Sabich – American skier murdered by girlfriend Claudine Longet
 * Brian Sakic – NHL player
 * Joe Sakic – NHL player (2001 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner)
 * Dario Šarić (Super Dario) – NBA player with the Philadelphia 76ers
 * Cory Sarich – ice hockey player
 * Buzz Schneider – ice hockey player
 * Branko Šegota – football player
 * Frank Sinkwich – American football player and awarded the Heisman Trophy
 * Elvis Sinosic (King of Rock N Rumble) – mixed martial artist, UFC
 * Paul Skansi – American football player
 * Nick Skorich – American football player and coach
 * Matt Skrmetta – baseball player
 * Paul Spoljaric – baseball player
 * Josef Spudich – American football player
 * Darijo Srna – football player
 * Max Starcevich – All-American football guard
 * Steve Stipanovich – former NBA player, No.2 pick in 1983 NBA Draft
 * Dominik Straga – swimmer
 * Dario Šimić – football player
 * Davor Šuker – football player (best scorer of the 1998 WC most goals winner of golden shoe in 98 WC with six goals)
 * Bruno Šundov – former NBA player
 * Žan Tabak – former NBA player
 * Marko Tomas – basketball player
 * Rudy Tomjanovich – former NBA player and coach
 * Andy Tonkovich – first NBA pick in 1948
 * Igor Tudor – football player
 * The Great Antonio – strongman and eccentric
 * Roko Ukić – NBA player
 * Auggie Vidovich – NASCAR driver
 * Mark Viduka – football player, Premier League
 * Blanka Vlašić – high jumper
 * Marc-Édouard Vlasic – ice hockey player
 * Antonio Vojak – football player
 * Oliviero Vojak – football player
 * Nikolai Volkoff – WWE Hall of Famer, born Josip Peruzović
 * Danny Vranes – basketball player
 * Stojko Vranković – former NBA player
 * Nikola Vujčić (born 1978) – basketball player and team manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv
 * Bernard Vukas – football player
 * Vladimir Vuković – chess player
 * Božo Vuletić – Olympic water polo gold medalist
 * Wesna – professional wrestler
 * Slaven Zambata – football player
 * Fritzie Zivic (The Croat Comet) – former World Welterweight Champion
 * Chris Zorich – former NFL player
 * Zdravko Zovko – handball player
 * Bob Zupcic – baseball player
 * Ante Žižić (born 1997) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Mario Andretti – racing driver, born in Motovun