How did Bosnia and Herzegovina come to be named?

Bosnia and Herzegovina's name is a compound of the two regions that make up the country: Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The name Bosnia is mentioned for the first time by Porphyrogenitus in his chronicle De administrando imperio from the 10th century. The area was ruled by a Ban known as Ban Borić who held the title of Bosnian Ban for the Byzantine emperor. The root from which Bosnia originates (Bosona-) first appeared in the 9th century in writings by the Frankish chronicler Einhard. Linguist Petar Skok believed the name came from the Celtic personal name Bosona. Others believed the name has an Illyrian or Thracian origin. Bosna is the shorter and more popular name used to describe the country.

Herzegovina is derived from the title Herzog (meaning Duke), held by the Dukes of Saint Sava. The first use of the term dates back to 1448 when it was used in a document concerning a dispute between Stjepan Vukčić Kosača and the Republic of Ragusa. Initially, it was used to describe the southern part of the present state, but starting from the 17th century it acquired its present geographic meaning.