There is a number of legends as to the origin of the name Zagreb. Here are some of them:

1. Zagreb derives it name from the word "Zabreg", which means "behind the hill (mountain)", since the city is situated below the mountain Medvednica. The shift from Zabreg to Zagreb can be explained by the need for easier pronunciation.

2. Another explanation would be that the name derives from the verb "zagrepsti", i.e. "ukopati" - to make a trench or a moat, since the settlement had to defend itself against the Turkish attacks.

3. During a great drought a vice-roy (ban) happened to pass through the area of present-day Zagreb. His soldiers were thirsty, so he stabbed his sword into the ground which opened and water started to flow. His words to the soldiers were "zagrabite", i.e. "scoop the water".

4. The same vice-roy asked a lovely girl called Manda, who stood at the well, to be the first to scoop the water from the well: "Mando, zagrabi!". The well in turn was called Manduševac, and the place Zagreb.


5. This legend is a variation of the previous ones, but this time it was a bishop who made a vow to the God at the time of a great drought and he used a hoe to make a well for his thirsty folk. This turned to be a well where there was always enough water to scoop.




Hope it helps