Balaban (surname)

Balaban (also Ballaban, Ballabon) is a surname, from a Turkic word meaning "robust", "burly", or a Ukrainian word meaning "hawk". Notable people with the surname include:

• Alexandru Balaban (born 1931), Romanian chemist
• Alper Balaban (1987–2010), Turkish footballer
• A. J. Balaban (1889–1962), co-founder of Balaban and Katz
• Barney Balaban (1887–1971), co-founder of Balaban and Katz
• Bob Balaban (born 1945), American actor and director (related to the founders of Balaban and Katz)
• Boško Balaban (born 1978), Croatian footballer
• Burt Balaban (1922–1965), American film producer and director
• Elmer Balaban (1909–2001), American theater owner and early cable television executive
• İbrahim Balaban (1921–2019), Turkish painter
• Jan Balabán (1961–2010), Czech writer
• John Balaban (poet) (born 1943), American poet and translator
• Judy Balaban (1932–2023), American actress and author
• Liane Balaban (born 1980), Canadian actress
• Meir Balaban (1874–1941), Polish Jewish historian
• Miriam Balaban, scientist
• Nathalie Q. Balaban, Israeli biophysicist
• Nina Balaban (born 1995), Macedonian sports shooter
• Ștefan Balaban (1890–1962), Romanian brigadier generał
• Darko Balaban (born 1989), Serbian basketball player