by Ismet Vukelj. Translation Petrit Latifi

Year after year the knowledge that the names of most villages in the Rozaj region come from the old Albanian language is disappearing.
There is a meaning behind each of them – from “hill top” to “dirty place”. Under the concept of Gornja village means the area on the right bank of the Ibar river, which consists of:

Balotiće (Balotiq), Bać (Baq), Bandžov (Bogjov), Besnik (Besnk / Mekaj), Daciće (Dacaj / Jovik), Donji Bukelj (Bukeli Poshter), Gornji Bukeli (Bukeli Sirm), Jablanica (Jablanica), Kaluderski Laz (Husaj), Peškoviće (Peshkaj) and Plunce (Plluncaj).

The inhabitants of these villages almost belonged to the Albanian-speaking area, as confirmed by their names.

Balotiq (pronunciation: Balotić – Balotiće)
From the Albanian word ball (bal) – “forehead”, “elevation”.
Meaning: village “on the top of the hill”, or on the elevation.

Baq (pronunciation: Bać)

There is an interpretation that the name originated from the word baç / baq, which in Albanian means “dizge”, “connection”, “ushkur”.
However, it is more likely that the word baq is the root of the noun baqica (bačica) – “garbage”, a woman who collects dairy products.

The meaning of the word has been lost over time, but it probably referred to dairy products or the place where they are made.
Bać – a place rich in milk, suitable basin for storing and processing of dairy products.

Bogjov (pronunciation: Bođov – Banžov)
From the expression bo gjov – bo (“u”) + gjov / language (“wild, forested area”)
Meaning: “in the wild”, or a forest place at height.
The word gjovë in old dialects also means “game” or “lovina”.

Faithful (pronunciation: Faithful – Faithful)
From the Albanian word disbeliever – “faithful, who keeps his word”.
Meaning: faithful friend, a common name for fraternities and villages among Albanians.

Dacaj (pronunciation: Dacaj – Daciće)
From the word dac – “cat”.
Originally personal, then a fraternal name that passed to the countryside.

Bukeli Poshter (pronunciation: Bukelji Poshter – Lower Bukelj)
Od bread – “bread” and down – “out”.
Meaning: “Donji Bukelj”, i.e. “lower village of Bukelj”.

Bukeli Sirm (pronunciation: Bukelji Sirm – Gornji Bukelj)
Od bread – upper “bread” (shortened cheese) – “top”.
Meaning: “Gornji Bukelj”.

Husaj (pronunciation: Husaj – Monk’s Laz)
From the personal name Husaj, which means “Husini”.
The name of the fraternity that gave the name to the village.

Jablanica (pronunciation: Jablanica)
An apple tree does not grow in the roses area, so the name cannot come from the plant.

It’s possible that the name comes from the expression ja blanica:
• me – “here”, “here”,
• blanë – “trag, ožiljak, mrlja”,
• -ica – suffix for a place.
Meaning: “that place with a trail”, or a place recognizable by its conspicuous feature (hill, rock, landslide).

Pluncaj (pronunciation: Pluncaj – Plunce)
Although it is often associated with the pëllumb bird (pigeon), it is more likely to come from plum / pollen – “dust”.
Meaning: “a place where grass becomes dust”, which corresponds to a stony ground without a source of water.

Peshkaj (pronunciation: Peshkaj – Peškovići)
From the fish – “fish”.
Meaning: “a place through which a stream rich in fish flows”.

Conclusion
The names of the villages clearly testify to the Albanian language layer that was once alive in the Ibar region. Almost every name carries meaning from nature, location of the village, or traits of the people who lived there — a trace of an old language that still speaks through toponyms today.