Where does “Бранка” come from?

Бранка (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Serbo-Croatian Бранко, from Serbo-Croatian бра́нити, from Proto-Slavic borniti, from Proto-Slavic bornь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic barˀnís, from Proto-Balto-Slavic bárˀtei, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- — to pierce; to strike; brown.

Ancestry of “Бранка”, step by step

Бранка traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Serbo-Croatian Бранко

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-CroatianБранко
2Serbo-Croatianбра́нитиto defend, protect; obstruct, stop
3Proto-Slavicbornitito defend, to protect
4Proto-Slavicbornьresistance, standoff; scuffle, battle
5Proto-Balto-Slavicbarˀnísfight, quarrel
6Proto-Balto-Slavicbárˀteito fight; to quarrel
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰerH-to pierce; to strike; brown

via Serbo-Croatian а

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianаbut, and (compare а̏ли)
2Proto-Slavicabut; and
3Proto-Balto-Slavicōand; but
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ōd
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH-Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic bárˀteiEvery word from Proto-Balto-Slavic barˀnís