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
Fictional Megadirettore Galattico (Galactic Megadirector) Duca Conte (Duke Count) Francesco Maria Balabam, one of the main characters in the novels and films about Ugo Fantozzi.
See also Balabanov